Children's Home run by The Partnership of Care Today in Rochdale

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection in August 2015, two requirements were made in relation to completing impact assessments and ensuring a suitable number of staff were in post to provide care and support to the young people living at the home. The manager has met these requirements by demonstrating how he assesses whether the home is an appropriate placement to meet the needs of a young person. He does this in accordance with the home’s Statement of Purpose, conditions of registration and taking into account the needs of the other young people at the home. An established staff team, providing continuity of care to young people, is in place. The home has recruited bank staff to provide additional cover if required. Young people know these staff and this provides further continuity for them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are encouraged and supported to attend education. When there is no education provision in place, staff advocate strongly with placing authorities to source and support suitable education placements. Some young people, prior to living at the home, have had significant periods of time when they have not engaged in education either through exclusion or persistent non-attendance. When exclusions are in place, staff liaise with the school to provide academic work during this period. To address non-attendance, staff assist with transportation to education, encourage through incentives, and work in partnership with professionals and families; sourcing additional support through the organisation’s lead for education. Although some young people are still not attending the requirement of 25 hours education per week, progress towards this is evident and consistently monitored.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Health care is promoted through registration with community health care professionals including doctors, dentists, and opticians. Additional specialist health care resources are sourced. This includes support through the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and drug and substance misuse workers. Staff are aware of the impact that both illegal and ‘legal’ highs have on young people’s health. They work with young people to minimise these risks through ongoing education, supervision, observation, and behaviour management strategies. Although some young people continue to misuse substances support provided resulted in a reduction in this, which is impacting positively on their overall health, well-being, and family relationships.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Placement plans reflect most of the young people’s needs. However, some plans contain greater details than others and one young person’s health care plan contained limited information and does not reflect the level of support provided. Although addressed at the time of the inspection, the manager is aware of the potential impact this could have for young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Positive behaviour is encouraged. All young people have behaviour management strategies in place to address behaviour which are not acceptable, as well as receiving acknowledgement and praise for positive behaviours. Records of sanctions and rewards detail why they are given. However, evaluation of their effectiveness and consistency of practice is limited; thereby not informing individual behaviour management plans.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A placing social worker commented: ‘the home worked exceptionally well with the young person and I would not hesitate to place another young person here. Engagement with the young person effectively supported him, high risk safeguarding concerns reduced resulting in positive and overall improved outcomes.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has sustained its effectiveness since the last inspection. Two recommendations in relation to health care plans and evaluation of sanctions to inform future behaviour management strategies have been made.

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Information about this children's home

This is a private children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to three children and 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

06/02/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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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 the specific responsibilities of the home in supporting the health and well-being of each child should be agreed with the placing authority and recorded in the child’s placement plan. It is the joint responsibility of the registered person and the placing authority that this is agreed at the time of placement (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 34, paragraph 7.7)  The registered person should ensure that all incidents of control, discipline and restraint are subject to systems of regular scrutiny to ensure that their use is fair and the principles as set out in 9.35 of the Quality Standards are respected (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 46, paragraph 9.36)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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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