Children's Home run by Castle Homes Care Limited in Cheshire East

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

The Registered Manager has taken effective action to meet the requirements and recommendation made at the last inspection. Child protection procedures were reviewed and updated and discussions took place with all staff about their roles and responsibilities. Young people were involved in the re-design of the children’s guide and spent time adding their own comments and views on living at the home. This included ‘When I first arrived I was confused, sad and sort of happy, but the staff have really helped me. Young people said ‘We think the new guide will really help others who come to live here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from individualised and well-planned care, from a committed and enthusiastic team and knowledgeable manager. The good quality care provided by staff, enables young people to make and sustain good progress in all areas of their lives, including education and health. Carefully planned contact with families is also helping young people maintain important relationships with significant people in their lives.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transition planning for young people moving in and out of the home is individualised and carefully planned. Young people receive support to visit their new placements. Although young people are anxious, staff provide opportunities for them to talk about any concerns or worries they make have. This supports young people to be involved in the planning process and ensures they move on in a positive way. Young people moving into the home also share these positive experiences. Pre-arranged tea visits and overnight stays, encourage young people to spend time in their new home before they move in. If visits are not appropriate, the manager spends time sharing information about the home and provides a copy of the children’s guide to the new young person. This gives them an opportunity to find out useful information about their new home. One young person said ‘although I did not get a chance to visit, the staff were all friendly when I arrived

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

and made me feel very welcome and this helped.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Effective quality care supports young people to make good progress with their education. All the young people are in full-time and permanent education with excellent attendance. One young person is on track to achieve good grades at the forthcoming GCSE examinations. She said ‘staff have really helped me and want me to do well. I want to go to college and university and they tell me I can do it, if I keep focused.’ Staff support young people with their homework and coursework, putting incentives in place to help them achieve their individual goals. Another young person is focused on her career plans to enter the armed forces. Staff encouraged her to access careers’ advice about the best pathway to choose, to achieve her goal. It is to the credit of the registered manager, staff and young people that education and learning is a priority of the home. Staff are ambitious and committed to all young people achieving their full potential.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have opportunities to enjoy leisure time in their local communities. Staff support young people to maintain previous hobbies and interests and provide many opportunities to try new ones. Activities, such as day trips to interesting places, joining the local youth club or drama classes, arts and crafts and celebrations, all encourage young people’s participation and socialisation. One young person talked excitedly about ‘going to the new youth club, with a new friend she had made.’ Another young person was looking forward to the ‘Easter egg hunt’, which he had request during the young people’s meeting and was planned for Easter Sunday.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding young people takes precedence. The registered manager and staff work effectively with partner agencies to protect young people. Regular meetings take place including looked after children’s reviews and other key meetings when required. Staff are well trained and understand their role in reporting and following safeguarding procedures. Staff said ‘We are here to make sure young people are safe and happy. It is our job to follow up any safeguarding concerns and tell the right people, so action can be taken.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are fully aware of the complaints procedure and are supported through this process. The manager has met individually with young people to talk about their concerns and has taken effective action to address issues that have arisen. Feedback throughout is provided to young people. At the end stage of the complaint, the manager has written to young people to identify any further actions. This has included clear timescales. If young people have complained about a staff member, mediation work has been complete to restore positive relationships. Therefore; young people feel listened to and understand that appropriate action will be followed, if they raise complaints.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have individual behaviour and risk management plans. These plans identify particular areas of risk to young people and the key services and strategies to reduce risk. Some young people are at risk of inflicting self-injury. In response, they have received specialist therapeutic intervention, supported by effective multi- agency planning. As a result, incidents have decreased. The Registered Manager has also taken action to review all behaviour management strategies. Discussions have taken place with staff through team meetings and individual supervision sessions, about clear and effective boundaries in regards to young people’s behaviour. Staff work with young people to help them identify ways to express their frustration or distress in a safer way, without resorting to aggression. Consequently, the need for punitive behaviour management strategies, such as, withdrawing privileges, is reducing as behaviour is clearly improving.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Appropriate monitoring systems are in place to continually review the quality of care provided and demonstrate the progress and experiences of young people. Staff reported that they have access to regular supervision and training. However, there has been a delay in some staff receiving training in managing self-harmful behaviours. The Registered Manager was aware of this and had taken action to discuss alternative forms of training with the local health services. Staff said ‘both managers are very supportive and are always available to talk about any areas of concern or any new ideas we may have.’ The team continues to be settled and committed in their roles. This reflects in the quality of care provided and young people’s continued progress.

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned children’s home for three young people.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/02/2015 Interim sustained effectiveness

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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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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

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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Recommendations

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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Recommendations

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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Recommendations

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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Recommendations

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

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Recommendations

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Recommendations

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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