Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Stockport

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 young person said this is a good home, where she is safe and happy. She acknowledges that her behaviour at times has been of concern but she has reflected on this and is trying hard to improve. She said, ‘I have been in numerous children’s homes and they have always got rid of me when I have messed up. Staff here continue to say they will stand by me because they believe in me. I now believe that they mean this and I am doing better.’ She continued to say, ‘Staff are fantastic, they care, are supportive and this is the best home ever.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person had poor attendance at education provision prior to be placed in this home. When she was admitted she said that she did not wish to be home tutored as this did not work for her. The manager quickly sourced a placement at the company’s school and she started at the beginning of the September term. Since this time she has improved dramatically. She has received fifteen certificates for good behaviour and effort and her attendance is very good. She is currently preparing for her exams in the spring. She said, ‘My course work is awesome. I don’t know what I want to do yet but I do want to get good grades so I will be able to explore several options.’ This means she is achieving beyond initial expectations, in line with her peers and has ambitions for her future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Generally, the young person is in good health because she attends all routine health appointments. She has recently stopped seeing a mental health professional because she does not think this is necessary. Alongside this the mental health service also say that she does not meet their criteria. However, they have recommended another service that focuses on emotional health. The manager is looking into this. This means that she will have someone independent from the home to talk to if she wishes. The young person has a history of self-harmful behaviour. She has been taken to hospital in an emergency on two occasions and received the appropriate treatment. Good risk assessments and behaviour management plans show the support, strategies, and action that staff need to take if an incident arises. They have also had specific training in this area. The home has a signed company consent form for medical treatment but although the young

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

person has been in placement for six months, they have not ensured that the social worker or her line manager have signed the legal consent within the placement plan. This does not ensure swift action can be taken in a medical emergency. In addition to this, the home’s Statement of Purpose does not clearly identify what the optimal information is to have for a robust planned placement and what is essential in an emergency placement. As a result, medical consent is not routinely asked for at the point of admission.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person was very confident that she could raise any concerns about her care within the home. She said, ‘I can talk to you (inspector), my social worker, or my advocate. But I do not need to as staff always listen and try to make things right.’ This means that she has several avenues to talk with someone independent from the home, if she wished to. However, she was less confident in raising concerns with external professionals. On the day of inspection the manager was supporting the young person to make a formal complaint about an external professional. She was reluctant as she thought no-one would believe her but the manager clearly explained the process and her rights to raise issues if she was not happy. This shows that young people are fully supported to raise concerns.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has received one external complaint from a neighbour since the last inspection. This was robustly dealt with and included formal letters acknowledging the complaint and the outcome. The home also sent flowers and a card as a form of apology. The neighbour was very happy with the action taken.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has not been held for her or others safety at this home but staff receive suitable training which is refreshed when required so that they would be able to if needed. The young person said, ‘Yes I have sometimes had sanctions because of my behaviour but they are always fair but positive rewards way out weigh these. It is great; I have had lots of additional clothing money and treats, especially when I have done well in education.’ She continued to say, ‘I also received a certificate and medal from my local authority in recognition of my good progress.’ This shows that young people’s achievements are celebrated and that they see the benefits of their improving behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has not been reported missing from this home since being placed here. This is a significant improvement on her past history. Staff demonstrated that they understood the local authority missing from home protocol and their roles and responsibilities in reporting, searching and ensuring young people’s well-being on their return.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There is a new manager in place who has recently been registered with Ofsted. He has been taking his time in getting to know staff, their skills and where they need to develop. He said, ‘This has enabled me to know where the shortfalls are and I have brought over a team leader to support the team.’ He has been streamlining the paperwork, which has included reducing the number of files that contain information on young people. He said, ‘This will help the young person understand and make sense of their background, progress, and future plans.’ He has recently sent out consultation documents to numerous external professionals to get their feedback on the service. He said the information will help him in updating the development plan for the service as the old manager completed this. In conjunction with this, he is currently completing an in-depth quality assurance document that looks at all aspects of the home. This shows that he is taking on the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

importance of improving and developing the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

An independent visitor visits this home on a monthly basis. These reports are of a good standard, they are sent timely to the relevant agencies and highlight improvements that are needed. For example, the last report also reflected the inspector’s findings on the absence of a signed legal medical consent and its implications. This means that the quality of care within the home is effectively monitored.

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home can accommodate one young person with emotional or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

20/02/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  The specific responsibilities of the home towards 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. This is specifically in relation to ensuring that medical consent is gained at the start of a placement. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 34, paragraph 7.7)

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Recommendations

 Ensure emergency admissions should not be taken unless the home's Statement of Purpose and its capacity and support systems mean that it has the capability to care for children admitted at very short notice while continuing to offer high quality care to children already living in the home. This is specifically in relation to identifying what information would be required from the local authority in an emergency admission. (The Guide to the Quality Standards page 15, paragraph 3.6).

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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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