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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children continue to make very good progress in overcoming the severe trauma of abuse and neglect they have experienced. They live in a well organised home, which is full of warmth and care. The monthly visitor says staff show 'high levels of responsive care' and a 'patient, calm approach.' Four children are enjoying long term placements until they are ready to live in a foster care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection one child has successfully moved to a foster family and another has moved to alternative residential provision.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the seven months since the last inspection, the manager, staff and children have done particularly well in planning for and helping children move into and out of the home. They make sure new children know what it will be like and to have a children’s guide beforehand. Staff and children prepare each new child’s favourite meal for their first night. Staff and the manager take them a toy to keep hold of and bring with them on their moving-in day. The manager has also done some excellent work helping parents understand what the home does for children and how the requirements of the care and placement plans are met.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has done some very pro-active work to advocate with placing local authorities for children moving on. This work has included ensuring the moving on plans are carefully made so that children can say goodbyes to their teachers, staff and friends. Staff created a simple story for one child about their favourite mermaid cartoon character moving to a new castle. They laminated all her pictures that she displayed on her bedroom wall and made them into a keepsake book to take with her. These things really helped the child understand and cope with their move. A social worker said, 'residential staff are working in partnership with children services in order to promote the best possible outcomes.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children thrive because staff are committed, skilled and understanding. Staff are attuned to children’s difficulties, the experiences behind them, and why difficulties show themselves in self-harm or destructive, sexualised, bullying or violent behaviour. Children say: 'adults like the children'; 'they play games with me'; 'I like the way they calm me down when I am struggling'; ‘they deal with bullying quick as a flash.' Staff are skilled at ensuring that children receive a wealth of opportunities to be active and to talk about things that trouble them. They help children feel extremely secure, by spending time with them and showing that they care. This means that children feel able to say what they want, complain or make disclosures. These are acted on according to safeguarding procedures that are understood by all. Staff look for ways to help children cope. They explain to children what to appropriately

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

do with sexual feelings. They provide them with safe ways to release frustration and hurt rather than self-harm. For example, they have provided children with chewable jewellery and hand massages. Staff overcome children’s worries about breaking windows and help children feel safer in the home by putting safety film over the windows. There has been an increase in physical interventions since the last inspection. The interventions have caused a number of associated minor injuries. The manager has monitored all these and ensured that children and staff are properly debriefed. She looked to children’s particular stresses for the reasons why incidents have occurred. However, she been slow to tackle the whole staff group about being more creative and energetic in their practice and less ‘locked in a battle where they can’t back down’ especially, through her monitoring and reviewing of the quality of care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and staff continue to receive good support from the organisation’s therapeutic team and school. All children now in placement receive therapy with the same therapist and three of them are attending the organisation’s school. One child has successfully transitioned to mainstream school. Staff and the manager communicate regularly and fruitfully with all others involved in the children’s care to make sure that their current issues and needs are understood and consistently met. For example, staff discuss with therapists and school staff the planned responses arising from incidents, contact arrangements or any other of children’s current concerns. The team approach ensures that children feel secure and understood wherever they are. A social worker said she is ‘impressed by the standard of care and staff ability to advocate about issues such as contact.’ The manager has been registered for seven months and is dedicated. She leads by

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

example, having warm and fair relationships with each child. She is tireless in her efforts to inspire staff. She ensures that they are well supported, supervised and appraised. However, she has not prepared staff training and development plans to help ensure their skills and expertise are prioritised and driven forward. She has addressed all the requirements and recommendations made at the last full inspection in August 2015. The manager is talented at cementing a positive atmosphere through well organised and safe group living in the home. For example, she regularly sits with all the children around the dining table and talks with them about her expectations that everyone respects one another and stays safe. She has recently talked with them about why it is so important to sit still and behave well in the car. She has also talked with them about how to make sure they understand how to keep a pregnant member of staff and her growing baby safe. Children are progressing

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

well at taking responsibility for their behaviour as a result of help like this.

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Information about this children's home

This home is operated by a private company and is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

25/02/2015 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 recommendations:  Ensure that the workforce plan is kept updated to include any new training and qualifications completed by staff while working at the home, and used to record the ongoing training and continuing professional development needs of staff – including the home's manager. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the registered person takes responsibility for deciding what each review should focus on, based on the specific circumstances of the home at that particular time and any areas of high risk to the children that the home is designed to care for. They will also consider what information or data recorded in the home will form part of the evidence base for their analysis and conclusions. There is no expectation that the registered person will review the home against every part of the Quality Standards every six months – registered persons should use their professional judgement to decide which factors to focus on. The review should enable the registered person to identify areas of strength and possible weakness in the home's care, which will be captured in the written report. The report should clearly identify any actions required for the next 6 months of delivery within the home and how those actions will be addressed.

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Recommendations

The whole review process and the resulting report should be used as a tool for continuous improvement in the home. (The Guide to the Quality Standards, page 65, paragraph 15.4)

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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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