Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

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

The one requirement made at the last inspection has been fully addressed and positive action taken on the two recommendations made to improve practice. Consequently, despite extensive criminal damage by young people over a sustained period of time, the staff have worked tirelessly to maintain a high standard of accommodation. There are also effective routines in place to ensure that young people's bedrooms are kept clean and tidy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Arrangements were immediately put in place to ensure one young person had the opportunity to talk to an independent person on his safe return from being missing to openly discuss his reasons for going missing. However, suitable arrangements are not in place for another young person, so this recommendation is repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the experienced and competent deputy has been promoted to manager. Consequently, she already has an in-depth knowledge of her team’s individual strengths to best meet each young person’s needs. She also has excellent organisational skills and is very pro-active in ensuring appropriate specialist services are accessed in a timely manner to meet young people’s more complex needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new manager has completed an application to register with Ofsted but is awaiting her police check. She has commenced a management training programme which leads to the level 5 diploma required for this responsible position.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home is always well-staffed to ensure that each young person benefits from highly individualised care and support and close supervision when needed.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager provides clear direction and excellent support which has successfully kept her dedicated staff team motivated through a particularly challenging period. The robust systems in place ensure all staff benefit from regular supervision and timely annual appraisals to aid continued personal development. New staff particularly benefit from formal reviews every two months throughout their probationary period.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The internal and external monitoring systems in place effectively drive continual improvement. However, the reports are not forwarded to Ofsted in a timely manner.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Excellent partnership working is firmly established with the local police. This has helped to safeguard and protect a number of young people by, for example, serving harbouring notices. Moreover, the home has challenged other police forces to be similarly responsive to the intelligence they have provided about known drug dealers in their areas.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A key strength of this home, is the staff’s ability to safely and effectively manage some highly complex and challenging behaviours without resorting to physical interventions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The emphasis on positive reinforcement of good behaviour and effort generally has the desired effect so relatively few sanctions are imposed. However, the sanction records do not always detail the exact location of incidents to enable robust analysis of any patterns and trends. Moreover, they do not consistently demonstrate that entries are made within 24 hours and that young people are spoken to within the legally required timeframes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s wishes and feelings are central to the day-to-day running and future direction of the home. A positive new development is the timing of young people’s meetings to ensure any requests are formally discussed by senior staff and a quick response given. Any suggestions to improve are included on the home’s development plan. This affirms to them that their views genuinely matter, which has a positive impact on their self-esteem and confidence.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This consistent staff team has a proven ability to provide a nurturing environment where young people can relax and feel safe to be themselves. Strong trusting relationships are soon developed and they genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Comments from young people include, ‘Things are very good here and the staff are sound’ and, ‘I like all the staff and I treat one young person like a younger brother.’ One parent said, ‘This is the most relaxed I have seen my son in a very long time.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been a number of admissions and discharges since the last inspection. However, impact risk assessments are not sufficiently robust. They clearly detail the presenting behaviours of the young people already living in the home and the needs of the young person referred. However, they do not sufficiently demonstrate how these will all be met and known risks minimised. This has resulted in some unsuitable matches which negatively impacted on other young people already happy and settled in the home. Consequently, the progress and experiences for young people have been variable since the last inspection. This has included placement disruptions to keep everyone safe. For example, it soon became evident that one young person was struggling with group living and was quickly moved to a solo placement where she is progressing well.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person’s physical, mental and emotional well-being has significantly improved in this placement, having been successfully helped to break a long established drug habit. Another young person had a planned moved to a newly registered children’s home closer to this company’s school. He chose some staff to move with him thus ensuring excellent continuity of care. This meant he also settled really quickly and remains very happy and settled there.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person was making excellent progress from his individual starting points. He was no longer going missing and committing offences. Rather, he was engaging in positive activities including improving his cooking and baking talents and attending school every day. Moreover, he was relaxed and comfortable to be himself and allow his personality and good humour to shine through. However, his behaviour recently spiralled following the unexpected death of a close relative and notice was reluctantly served. Parents and stakeholders were highly complementary of the staff’s dedication to try to keep him safe, but intense grief was negatively controlling his actions.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Comments include, ‘ This home provided a very caring environment and helped him through a very difficult time recently, going over and above our expectations as a placing authority. They didn’t give up on him but he unfortunately chose a different path’, 'I have been very impressed with the care my son has received throughout and was very relieved in the change in him for many months. The weekly reports are well-written and detail things like the hours he slept and the time spent with adults. I found this really helpful in understanding how he was behaving and feeling’ and, ‘This home work really well with the local police. I cannot fault them and I’ve been in the job for 28 years. There has been lots of good partnership working and especially with one young person to try to keep him safe. They did all they possibly could.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff have shown tremendous resilience during a particularly challenging period, and are now enjoying another settled period. There are currently only two young people in placement and they do not intend to admit anymore until the home is settled for a more sustained period.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people are demonstrably benefitting from the clear and consistent daily routines in place and staff have produced these in appropriate formats so they are fully understood by each child. This has resulted in markedly improved personal hygiene and has successfully broken some obsessive behaviours.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good partnership working with the specialist nurse for looked after children and the agreed sensitive strategies put in place have effectively improved some challenging toileting and eating habits. One young person on admission was underweight and suffered with a skin complaint. On discharge he had a healthy complexion and was a healthy weight so his self-esteem had rocketed. The nurse wrote, ‘This home is outstanding especially the new manager who is really on the ball. All the staff support the young people very well around issues of both physical and mental health. Their well-being is at the heart of everything they do.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This staff team have a very good track record of re-establishing and maintaining excellent school attendance for young people previously excluded. Care staff will stay with young people throughout the school day to help support their learning, emotional and behavioural needs. This ensures continuity of care and enables them to reach their full potential. One parent said, 'After a year out of any education within two weeks of arriving at this home he was attending school full time, something I had given up on.'

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This passionate staff team are strong and effective advocates for the young people. They are particularly successful in re-establishing and securing constructive contact with family and friends, which is important in maintaining their sense of identity. One parent wrote, ‘My son is so different even from the few months ago and in October we had one of the best contacts we’ve had in a very long time. He was so relaxed and was laughing and joking with his siblings which was lovely to see. He is only improving because of the care he is receiving at this home and the specialist support around him.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Particularly sensitive arrangements were put in place over the Christmas period to ensure it was a happy and memorable time for everyone. One young person was thrilled to be seeing his birth family again, but unfortunately he quickly struggled with conflicting loyalties resulting in him going missing.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Overall, incidents of going missing have increased since the last inspection, but the frequency and duration is still less than it was prior to moving into this home. Individualised missing from home risk assessments have recently been strengthened to include the known hotspots relevant to each young person. This information aids the police in ensuring their quick and safe return.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This placement has enabled one young person to break free from the negative influences of a gang culture and to take part in positive and age appropriate activities. All the young people benefit from a wide range of opportunities on offer. During the last half-term holiday from school they enjoyed daily trips out together. Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported which further strengthens competences and confidences. Examples include, computers, cooking, baking, fishing, song writing, rapping, trains and wizardry. One young person said, ‘I really enjoy cooking and often help to make the evening meal for everyone’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home offers good quality individualised care for young people with some highly complex needs. However, the internal placement plans are not kept up-to- date to reflect this good practice.

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Information about this children's home

This is a private children’s home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five young people of either gender who may be experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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

35: Behaviour management policies and records

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Requirement Due date

Demonstrate that within 24 hours of any sanction imposed a record is made that includes all the required particulars and that the young person is spoken to about the measure of control within the legally required timescales. (Regulation 35 (3)(b) and (c)) 15/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

Supply to Ofsted a report of any review on the quality of care provided in the home within 28 days of the date on which the review was completed. (Regulation 45(4)(a)) 15/02/2016

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Requirement Due date

Review and revise each child’s placement plan as is necessary to ensure the contents are up to date and accurate. (Regulation 18(7)) 15/02/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Ensure young people have the opportunity to talk to an independent person on the safe return from being missing about their reasons for going missing. (The Guide, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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Recommendations

 To meet the care planning standard, the registered person must demonstrate that the home only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (The Guide, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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

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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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