Children's Home run by Appletree Treatment Centre Limited in Westmorland and Furness

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last full inspection in October 2015 this home was judged good in safeguarding and overall experiences and progress, and requires improvement in leadership and management. Since that time, the management team have worked hard to make good progress across all the areas highlighted for improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home have recruited a number of new staff who have all been inducted and registered on the NVQ level three course. These staff have had a positive impact on the staffing levels within the home. Thus alleviating some of the pressure on existing staff to take additional shifts, which, at the time of the last inspection, was causing them to become tired and frustrated. The children have also benefitted, by having new and enthusiastic faces and they enjoy always having sufficient staff to enable them to take part in a wide variety of activities. In addition, all staff offer the group a high level of care and support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In addition to having recruited new staff, the level of support provided to staff has increased. Trackers have been implemented to ensure that all staff receive regular supervision. This effectively supports them in their role in caring for children and all staff receive an annual appraisal to assist them in developing their practice and identifying any areas for improvement. This ensures that all practice and staff performance is efficiently monitored to ensure the children receive the best possible care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children at this home are healthy and are encouraged to eat a healthy diet and participate in physical activities. Some children have diagnosed conditions for which they are prescribed complex medication regimes. There are robust systems in place to ensure that medication is administered correctly and there have been no medication errors or omissions since the last inspection. Children’s health plans are detailed and contain full information about their medical conditions and the medications they are prescribed and how and when this is administered. Children are supported to attend health appointments to ensure their health needs are fully met and benefit from a positive, holistic approach to being healthy. The cultural needs of children are well considered and a significant amount of work has been invested into developing children’s awareness of their cultural heritage. For children who are placed a significant distance from their home areas, this is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

particularly important and gives them knowledge of their backgrounds and the cultures specific to their home regions. This helps develop their sense of self- identity and belonging, as well as developing their understanding of cultural differences. Work is also being developed in helping children to understand their life stories. Key workers for children work closely with social workers in delivering this vital work, to help children make sense of their past and why they are looked after children.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some children continue to require physical management on occasions. There is a newly developed system for monitoring physical management which covers the frequency, time, location and staff involved which assists the manager in looking for patterns and trends. Children’s emotional wellbeing is closely monitored and staff are vigilant to any changes in their presentation, which may indicate they are worried or upset. Therapy is offered to most children and they benefit from having the time, space and expertise to deal with issues affecting them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children at this home are safe, they are not at risk of child sexual exploitation, they do not go missing from home, take drugs, misuse alcohol or engage in criminal or anti-social behaviour. They live in a physically safe environment and become emotionally safe through developing trusting relationships with adults who care about them and provide a high level of physical and emotional support. Children report feeling safe in the home and being happy with the care they receive.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children are helped to move on positively. One child has successfully moved into a foster placement since the full inspection and a further child will move to a foster placement imminently. The home are strong advocates for young people moving on to placements that are right for them and work hard with young people who are disappointed by planned moves not progressing. The home make challenges to placing authorities on children’s behalves when they do not deliver a good service to young people and children feel confident that the home will advocate for them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the previous inspection four requirements and two recommendations were made, all of which have been met. No further requirements or recommendations are made at this inspection.

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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 12 children of either gender who are experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. This company also runs a school, registered with the Department for Education, which is situated within the same grounds of the children’s home and all of the children attend.

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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

26/02/2015 Interim improved effectiveness

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Information about this children's home

27/02/2014 Interim Satisfactory Progress

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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

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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