Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Blackpool

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 make good progress from their starting points, in particular to being safe. Incidents of missing from home have significantly reduced and they are no longer involved in criminal activity since living here.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Leadership and management arrangements are much improved. A Registered Manager is in post and has brought stability and enthusiasm to the staff team.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The staff have good relationships with partner agencies and young people’s families and friends. This provides continuity in caring for them and helps them settle in the home.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people who have previously been out of education are now attending education provision regularly and making good progress. Others are in college full-time and have high aspirations to achieve.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people participate in a range of activities that boosts their self-esteem.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people have regular contact with their family and friends, which they enjoy.

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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

12: In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered person must ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in relevant plans and make arrangements to reduce the risks of any harm to the child. 20/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

(b)(c) ensure that the children can access all areas of the home's premises and any limitation is intended to safeguard each child, is necessary, proportionate and kept under review. 20/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

7: In order to meet the children's views, wishes and feelings standard, the registered person must ensure that staff

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a)(iv) regularly consult children and seek their feedback about the quality of the home's care. 20/01/2016

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Requirement Due date

6: In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure that

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Requirement Due date

(2)(c)(i) the premises used for the purpose of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child, with particular reference to replacing damaged furniture and the home's computer. 20/01/2016

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Information about this children's home

The children's home is one of a number of homes operated by a large private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children's home

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Information about this children's home

26/03/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Information about this children's home

04/03/2014 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

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good

Young people living here experience a calm and nurturing living environment. The staff work together effectively as a team to convey clear, consistent messages to young people who respond very well. For example, since living here they are no longer involved in risky behaviours, such as criminal activity and they are now very rarely missing from home. This assures young people’s safety and welfare.

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good

Additionally, they are now attending full-time school provision regularly and making progress. Teachers spoken to confirm their progress and school reports highlight their academic achievements. The staff are interested in their school and college experience and chat to them about their day. They engage with the wider system, such as, the virtual head, to ensure young people gain education opportunities in line with their needs. The home’s computer is currently not working and requires repair to ensure their education is supported further.

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good

The staff build good relationships with young people and speak positively of them. They participate in activities together and have individual time together, which provides emotional support and guidance. They enjoy activities such as; rugby, snooker, cinema, football, boxing and electronic and board games within the home. A young person has also been on a holiday of choice to Spain. These opportunities help to build their confidence as well as broaden their horizons and experiences.

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good

Each young person's day-to-day health and wellbeing needs are well met. The staff work together with in-house trained therapists to help young people work through past experiences and trauma. Again, they encourage them to reduce smoking and substance misuse, which continues to be work in progress. Additionally, they are registered with general medical practitioners, opticians and dentists and appointments are kept to ensure they remain in good health.

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good

Young people living here are placed a long distance away from their home towns. Measures are in place to ensure they stay in touch with their families. This is fully supported by staff in line with their care plans. They make arrangements with families and placing authorities and provide transport and funding. They also welcome families into the home. This ensures that they remain connected to those significant in their lives.

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good

Young people are new to the home and others have moved on in their best interests. Impact risk assessments are part of the process to enable them to be appropriately placed. Furthermore, booklets and guides are available and explain the routines of the home including, pocket money and safety. Young people say that ‘the staff are the best thing about the home.’

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good

The staff work with young people to gain their views through daily life and monthly meetings. However, they are not always clear as to how their views and wishes have been responded to. For example, a number of issues were raised at the inspection that they were dissatisfied with namely, no access to Wi-fi, the décor of the home, and sharing of home’s vehicle use. The manager sought to address this during the inspection.

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good

Young people feel safe living here and within their wider community. They do not identify bullying or intimidation as a concern. Notably, their safety has increased since living here as they are no longer involved in criminal activity and rarely missing from home. The staff work with them to educate them in keeping themselves safe. For example, they work with them individually with time away from the group, on areas such as, safe relationships, effects of substance misuse and emotions and feelings. These practices help to build resilience and confidence.

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good

Safety and protection is a firm focus of the staff and when spoken to they fully understand the risks to young people. However, the written risk assessments that are in place are not accurately recorded. Also, they do not reflect some of the possible risks for example, lighters in bedrooms or the measures to reduce these risks.

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good

The staff have clear guidance to follow when managing negative and challenging behaviour. A behaviour management system is in place where they can earn points for positive behaviour, such as going to school. These points are converted into extra money. This system is successful with young people living here. Physical intervention is not used and the staff are trained in a recognised intervention technique to safely hold young people if needed.

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good

Organisational policies to protect young people are in place and the staff have regular training regarding this. The staff spoken to during this inspection demonstrated a clear understanding about child protection procedures, whistleblowing and the reporting of any concerns.

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good

The staff are all recruited and selected through a process that takes account of safe recruitment practice. This includes checks with the disclosure and barring service, taking up of references and robust interviews. This helps to safeguard young people against unsafe adults.

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good

Health and safety checks are also completed around the home to promote a hazard free living environment. Routine locking of the living room door at night prevents free access around the home and to the kitchen. This detracts from an otherwise homely atmosphere.

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good

The management structure of the home has changed since the last inspection with a Registered Manager and acting manager leaving and the post being vacant for a short time. However, a new and recently Registered Manager has been in post since June 2015. She has experience of working with young people in education and care settings. She also holds a relevant qualification in management.

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good

The staff spoken to enjoy their work and are highly complimentary of the manager. Although, some members of staff are new to the home, they have picked up the culture of nurturing and quality care. Moreover, they have regular training, supervision and appraisal to ensure their care practice meets the high standards set by the manager.

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good

The quality of relationships between the manager, staff and partner agencies is good. All professionals spoken with report high levels of satisfaction with the care and progress of young people and the professionalism of staff. They comment: ‘I am very happy, communication is good and they keep me informed, a settled placement and ‘a good quality placement, a good manager and communicator.’ A staff member stated ‘moral has improved so much, the manager is very good and approachable.’

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good

A detailed development plan in place which sets the direction of the home, for example, to develop the staff knowledge further and to improve the garden area. Moreover, since the last inspection she has addressed the areas for improvement including; notifying relevant bodies of significant events, devising a location risk assessment and introducing clear health care plans. Improvements to the decoration of the home is evident and continues.

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good

Records generally reflect the daily lives of young people and how their needs are being met. Each young person has a daily journal that incorporates this well. The manager is looking to improve recording systems to prevent timely duplication and to better evidence the impact they are having upon young people’s lives. This reflects the staff and manager’s commitment to promoting their success.

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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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