Children's Home run by Thunderbolt Mobile 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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Following the last inspection three young people have been accommodated in the service. Young people often arrive from troubled backgrounds where their risk taking behaviours cannot be managed in a local community or group home. They are placed within solo provisions, such as, a yacht, narrowboat, cottage, tepee and camper van. Consequently, their experiences are enhanced and they make progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a permanent and committed staff team who foster excellent relationships with young people. The registered manager and deputy have systems in place to ensure the service provided can meet the needs of young people. There is careful planning and information sharing with placing authorities. This identifies young people’s assessment needs and who is responsible for meeting these needs. A planned programme of activities combined with education is agreed. This system is well co-ordinated by the management team and provides support to young people and staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people engage in their agreed education programme where learning can be undertaken within the provision young people are placed. This is carried out by qualified teachers. Alternatively, some young people attend the organisations own off-site registered school and staff transport them to and from the school. These arrangements ensure young people recover previous learning opportunities as schooling has frequently been disrupted or their attendance has been poor. This benefits young people for later life.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are initially assessed during a 12-week period. Their stay within the service is extended in agreement with them and their placing authority. Some young people make significant progress within the assessment period and substantially reduce their risk taking behaviour. As a result, well planned transitions are agreed with young people and their placing authority, either returning back to their family or living in one of the organisations group homes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

A social worker says, ‘I am impressed with the energy, effort and time staff have invested in the young person. The registered manager keeps me fully informed of their progress and staff have arranged things which protect them and engage them in learning, such as, child sexual exploitation work and education.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Memory books are presented to young people as they move on. These clearly evidence the success young people have made during their stay. They include photographs of the many activities and learning opportunities they have experienced along with well wishes and positive comments from staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Comprehensive monitoring systems result in good standards of care. The independent person visits the service each month and produces a detailed, evaluated and effective report. Shortfalls identified in monitoring visits or audits by the registered manager are discussed during handover and supervision and are quickly rectified. This maintains the good level of care provided. Young people have updated weekly monitoring reports showing areas of progress they have made from their starting point in the service. These reports provide valuable information as they move on and assist them and their placing authority in relation to the level of support they need to continue with their progress.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safeguarded in the service, as the provisions young people live in are located in rural locations or on waterways. This significantly reduces young people’s risk of being missing or absent and protects them from being suspected or subjected to child sexual exploitation. Staff are trained and competent to recognise and respond to suspicions of abuse.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Risks are detailed around health and safety when on-board and cover the surrounding areas, such as, canal locks, tow paths and farm land. As a result, young people fully understand the dangers of living and travelling around waterways or entering private land, and this keeps them safe. Detailed risk assessments are carried out and recorded of all facilities young people stay in, before they are used by the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are trained in behaviour management and de-escalation techniques and have meaningful relationships with young people. Reflective conversations enable staff and young people to quickly identify and address any issues as they arise. They respond well to incentives set by staff and agreed by them. Restraint is only used as a last resort to protect young people, staff or property. Detailed records are completed and show when restraint has been used. This has been minimal and has only been to guide young people away from a situation, and is short in duration.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people receive well-presented information in relation to the services provided including how to complain. Any issues young people raise are clearly recorded. They then receive a written outcome. As a result, young people feel listened to. Staff fully understand their responsibilities to notify appropriate authorities when significant events take place. This further protects young people. The registered manager and deputy work well with other professionals to support the progress and experiences of young people. The requirement from the last inspection has been met. There is an updated statement of purpose document. This clearly describes the services provided and the names, qualifications and experience of the staff who will provide these services. This document is available to placing authorities, families, commissioners and has been provided to Ofsted.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No requirements or recommendations have been made at this inspection.

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Information about this children's home

 The service is registered to accommodate three young people with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties  The service is privately owned  The service provides alternative accommodation from one to 52 weeks, which incorporates activity based intervention work in order to offer an innovative programme for young people experiencing a period of difficulty or crisis. As written in the home's statement of purpose document  Locations will vary, as young people will be quite literally ‘mobile’, using a variety of camping and cottages, as well as our narrow boats and yacht as outlined in the home's statement of purpose document

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

02/02/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

21/03/2014 CH - 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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