Children's Home run by Radical Services 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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the home’s last full inspection in December 2015 three requirements and five recommendations were made to primarily address weakness identified in the effectiveness of the home’s leadership and management. The home has achieved some success in progressing the issues raised although one requirement has not been met. Consequently, this has been repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager is not yet demonstrating sufficient confidence to challenge placing authorities where gaps in information and planning seem to exist. The home communicates regularly with placing authorities and other professionals. However, some aspects of young people’s care planning are not routinely discussed and clarified to ensure that managers and staff have a sound understanding of how matters are progressing. For example, the home is unclear about the progress of a care order application for one young person and the role of those with existing parental responsibilities. As such, staff are lacking some confidence and clarity to effectively help the young person understand the process, her rights and timescales involved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff regularly inform young people of the existence of advocacy services and other professionals that can support them to have their voice heard. However, it was identified during this inspection that their approach may not be sufficiently proactive to ensure that all young people fully understand the nature of the support that can be provided. On this matter, a further recommendation is made to strengthen the home’s current arrangements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last full inspection, one young person has left the home as a result of provider identifying shortfalls in the home’s ability to meet her needs. The home was appropriately supportive in assisting with the young person’s move despite arrangements being made at short notice. The home has achieved some learning from this experience and is currently taking a proactive approach; reviewing and revising matching processes and progressing staff development in advance of planning for new admissions. This aims to promote a greater likelihood of sustained success for those placed at the home in future. Staff encourage young people to enjoy a wide range of activities. These now include a good variety outings and activities that promote healthy exercise and provide young people with some good opportunities to socialise with peers. One young person has enjoyed walking, swimming, climbing and regular outings to an

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

activity farm park. These have proved to be very nurturing experiences that have promoted positive childhood expectations of fun and excitement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people continue to make good progress in relation to their starting points. Staff prioritise young people’s safety appropriately and appear to be strengthening their relationships with them. Staff rarely use restraint as a behaviour management strategy, relying more effectively on their skill to de-escalate challenging situations. Since the last inspection there have not been any occasions when staff have felt it necessary to call police for assistance. The home has successfully established a more positive working relationship with the local constabulary to improve young people’s perception of the police and the support they can provide.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager has improved the quality of recording and documentation maintained within the home. A new system has been introduced for the recording and tracking of complaints that provides a much improved account of how matters are dealt with and resolved.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have been provided with further guidance that has clarified their understanding of the issues that Ofsted need to be notified of to ensure that transparency exists with the regulator. The home has appropriately advised Ofsted of all relevant events since the last inspection. Improvements identified in the detail recorded enables the reader to have a good understanding of events as they have unfolded.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have responded positively to further guidance and training and have made similar progress in their recording of key worker sessions. These improvements in recording style demonstrate that young people’s personal records are now more comprehensively maintained. They provide a clear and accurate account of discussions that successfully reflect young people’s views and wishes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The provider has taken direct action since the last inspection to address the quality of independent monitoring arrangements. Progress has been made in identifying new arrangements for independent scrutiny of the home. Due to the short time lapse since the last inspection, an insufficient number of reports have been received to fairly judge the impact of these new arrangements.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The Registered Manager has continued to monitor and evaluate activity within the home. Although her six-monthly monitoring review report for Ofsted is not yet due, she has demonstrated some progress in identifying specific and pertinent issues, in accordance with guidance, that she plans to report on.

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Information about this children's home

 The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 3 children  It is owned and operated by a private company  It is registered to care for children with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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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

5. Engaging with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met:

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Requirement Due date

In order to engage with the wider system to ensure children’s needs are met the registered person must ensure that staff: (c) challenge the placing authority to seek to ensure that each child’s need are met in accordance with the child’s relevant plans. This is with particular reference to gaining clarity and timescales in relation to the placing authority’s plans and actions. (Regulation 5 (c)) 14/05/2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 Actively support children to access appropriate independent advocacy support to ensure they have the advice and support needed to express their views, wishes and feelings about their care and lives. This relates specifically to those children that may be more emotionally vulnerable and less confident about the impact of the independent advocate's role. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 23, paragraph 4.16)

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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

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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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