Children's Home run by Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited in Stockport

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceeds the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 The overall progress for the young people resident is outstanding. They report positively about the relationships with staff and the quality of care they receive.  Young people are making excellent individual progress since their time of admission to the home, in all aspects of their lives. Young people’s views are very well understood by caring staff who demonstrate genuine interest in all areas of their lives  Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe runs through the practice in the home. Young people rarely go missing, they are very settled in their placements.  Young people report being treated fairly and there is very little use of sanctions and restraint, rather the focus is on positive re-enforcement and recognition of achievement and effort  There is a very good staff team, they are consistent, knowledgeable and experienced.  The children’s home provides highly effective services that

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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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

ensure that children are provided at all reasonable times with access to a telephone on which to make and receive telephone calls in private the following facilities which they may use without reference to persons working in the home. Unless safeguarding concerns prevent this. (Regulation 22 (3)(a)) 31/03/16

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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 that the Statement of Purpose is kept under review ; in particular making it accessible to those outside of the social work profession for example; some parents (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 13 Paragraph 3.5)

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Information about this children's home

The home is registered for three children and the category of registration is that of Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties (EBD). It is privately owned and operated.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

05/02/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

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outstanding

The quality of individual care provided is outstanding. One of the young people says “this is the best home I have ever lived in … the staff are really nice”. Staff know the young people very well. Another young person says “Its ok … its ok … that’s all I can say”. Despite this, the particular young person is doing very well indeed.

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outstanding

Living a healthy lifestyle is very much encouraged and young people are engaged in doing activities both inside and outside of the home such as to the cinema and enjoying having meals out. This helps to build their confidence is social settings, which they say they enjoy. Meals are sociable occasions and provide the opportunity for informal discussion and to catch up on the day’s events.

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outstanding

Young people are making excellent individual progress since their time of admission, in all aspects of their lives. For example; one young person had very poor attendance and with careful planning and work with the school the home have been able to emphasise the importance of education resulting in significantly improved attendance. All young people now engage well and are attaining level of progress similar to their peers.

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outstanding

Staff are very supportive to the young people and assist wherever they can, for example, with homework and seeking guidance and advice on their chosen vocational course options. The staffs proactive and structured approach to supporting young people encourages them to have aspirations for their future continued education and employment prospects.

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outstanding

Young people’s views are very well understood; staff speak to them about how their day has been in school and in other areas of their lives; this shows young people that staff genuinely care about them and that they are interested in their achievements. The staff recognise the achievements of young people and their efforts are rewarded by incentives such as being able to choose a particular item or activity.

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outstanding

Regular keyworker sessions are undertaken and informal discussions cover care planning and listening to young people’s wishes and feelings. Comprehensive planning and review is in place. Placement plans offer excellent detail to the staff about young people's day-to-day routines. Statutory reviews are held within timescales and all of the young people either attend or make their views known. This ensures young people have a strong voice in their future. The staff in the home are very good at promoting and facilitating contact for the young people to ensure that they are enabled to maintain contact with their families and people close to them. All contact arrangements are clearly detailed in individual plans.

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outstanding

Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe runs through the practice in the home. Individual risk assessments are comprehensive; risks are very well identified such as missing from care and there are clear strategies in place that staff know and implement should a young person become missing. This has resulted in reducing the frequency and duration of periods of missing to the point whereby this is rare. Young people are also encouraged to take risks that are age appropriate so they can explore the world around them and learn to negotiate and manage day to day activities in a safe way. The risk assessments fully account for individuals past and current experiences and helps them to be clear about making informed choices

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outstanding

The home has a clear complaints policy and maintains a record of any complaints. The process for making a complaint is clear in the children’s guide but not as clear in the Statement of Purpose, this document uses a lot of professional language; this means it is less accessible to those outside of the social work profession such as parents. Young people report knowing how to make a complaint and are clear about whom they can complain to. They spoke about being confident in raising concerns or issues with staff and that they feel they would be listened to. There is access to independent advocacy but there is an issue over having to request the use of the telephone from staff. This presents a potential issue in so far as being able access advocacy independently without having to ask staff to use the phone.

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outstanding

All of the staff in the home have received training in safeguarding. They are very clear of what safeguarding matters are and what constitutes abuse. They demonstrate a very good knowledge of child protection and are alert to any signs and changes in young people's behaviour and other potential indicators. Staff understand how to respond appropriately to young people should they disclose important information, and are they understand the importance of recording diligently and reporting as per the set procedures.

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outstanding

Behaviour is managed very well. Young people have placement stability and are clear about the expectations placed upon them. They say the rules are fair and reasonable. Good interactions are observed between staff and young people and positive behaviour is promoted and rewarded.

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outstanding

Training has been undertaken by staff, in positive behaviour management and there is a clear behaviour management policy in place. Young people report being treated fairly and there is very little use of sanctions and restraint. Interactions between them and the staff in the home are warm and respectful.

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outstanding

The home maintains copies of recruitment records for all staff. The recruitment process is thorough and ensures only suitably checked people work with children; staff are asked for information about any offences on a quarterly basis, this ensures that the organisation have information that it is regularly updated between other checks. Visitors are appropriately supervised and are asked for identification upon arrival.

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outstanding

The Registered Manager is suitably qualified and experienced, He holds a Diploma Level 7 in Management, Diploma Level 5 Strategic Management and NVQ Level 4 Leadership and Management. He has extensive experience, in excess of ten years working with vulnerable young people. He provides very effective leadership to both the staff and young people in the service.

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outstanding

Leaders and managers have a very clear understanding of the progress young people are making in respect of the individual plans for them. They continually make exceptional progress from their starting points across all aspects of their development.

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outstanding

The Statement of Purpose is a very good document. It provides an accurate description of the care provided; it would benefit from further revision to ensure it is more accessible and written in plain English. There is in place a good children's guide, which provides appropriate and interesting information for the young people and is presented in a child friendly way.

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outstanding

There is a very good consistent staff team, who are knowledgeable and experienced. They know the young people exceptionally well; this has a positive impact upon the young people and has enhanced their placement stability. Regular supervision is undertaken with staff and the manager to check understanding of their development and to offer support. Staff are offered a variety of training opportunities and are positive about the quality of training afforded to them; for example, recent training with regard to radicalisation to raise awareness of this issue and the possible indicators that a young person may be influenced by more extreme viewpoints.

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outstanding

Leaders and managers know and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the home, very well. The act to prevent any shortfalls, as they become aware of them such as shortfalls in accessing education. They identify weaknesses and take decisive and effective action to ensure compliance and excellent outcomes for young people.

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outstanding

There are robust quality monitoring systems in place and the manager regularly signs the records accordingly to demonstrate they have reviewed them. There is pro-active approach to the overall development of the home and this is detailed within a comprehensive development plan.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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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