Children's Home run by Footsteps a Path to Change Limited in Cheshire East

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judge that it has sustained effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children's home continues to make a measureable difference to the lives of young people. Staff continue to use their knowledge of outstanding childcare practice to provide personalised, well-planned and effectively reviewed care. Professionals involved in the lives of young people say staff work hard and make sure young people achieve their individual potential. Young people said, ‘I have been here four and a half years and to be honest there is no place I would rather be’; ‘The staff are great and I know they do really care about me. ‘This is by far the best place I have ever lived. ‘

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people say they feel extraordinarily safe in the home, and are confident that staff do their best to help them to be safe and happy. Staff demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of the risks young people face, and always take positive action to ensure risks are minimised and safely managed. They introduce and reinforce appropriate boundaries with young people, and work creatively to sustain fragile placements, when it is in the best interests of the young person. Young people enjoy warm, open and trusting relationships with staff. This means they feel confident in the support available to them, readily ask for help, and respond well to praise and encouragement given for their achievements.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are involved in transition planning when moving out of the home. Plans are individualised and young people are encouraged to be involved in the whole process. This includes going to see properties in the area they wish to live, while staff encourage young people to consider if they can still travel to their current apprenticeships and college placement, using public transport. Staff support young people to budget their leaving care monies and buy suitable and appropriate furnishings for their new home. To celebrate this event the Registered Manager arranged a photo shoot. This was an opportunity for young people and staff to make further memories that the young person could add to their memory book and take with them as they move on. The young person had recorded ‘Footsteps is definitely the best home, I have genuinely felt loved and cared for and it has stood out from the other care homes I have ever been in.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are engaged in full time education programmes, often for the first time in many years. They are proud of their achievements, telling their families and staff about how well they do in their assessments and tests. This has enabled some young people to attain exam grades that have provided access to college courses and apprenticeships. Young people plan their future careers with an anticipation of being successful and talk excitedly about their career paths as ‘a chef’ and ‘dance teacher.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people enjoy improved social lives as they share leisure time with their friends, both within the home and in the community. They say that staff offer friendly hospitality to their friends. They say that the home is just like any other family home, and that young people get on with each other, with older young people helping the younger ones. They are realistic about the amount of freedom they have without staff. One young person said, ‘I am learning to make the right choices, I have learned to say ‘no’, to stupid ideas, I can now go out on my own and the staff will ring to check im safe and well. At first I was not happy about this, but know I realise it’s because they really do care.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff’s robust safeguarding practice is improving young people’s welfare and safety. Excellent partnership working with the police, social workers and specialist child sexual exploitation (CSE) teams is reducing risk and increasing young people’s safety. The noticeable decrease in missing from home episodes and reduction in CSE risks confirms this. A well-trained team, who have recently undertaken refresher training on safeguarding and CSE, is managing risk effectively. Young people have also been involved in training the staff in ‘self-harmful behaviours from their own perspective.’ It was an opportunity for staff to reflect on their practice, while considering the impact their behaviour and attitude to instances of self-harm may have on young people. This was an excellent example of staff working with young people to understand and support their individual care needs.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Strong monitoring systems ensure that the registered manager and staff team have a high awareness of the home’s performance. Regular feedback from staff, young people and professionals informs an innovative and responsive development plan to improve practice. Independent monthly visits to the home further help to develop care practice, and include feedback from a range of sources involved with the home, all positive. The home has established a consistently strong level of practice and Ofsted identified no regulatory shortfalls or concerns at the last, or this inspection.

p.3

Information about this children's home

The home is a privately owned home for three young people

p.5

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Recent inspection history

02/02/2015 CH - Interim sustained effectiveness

p.5

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.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

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

p.7