Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Rochdale

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has improved effectiveness .

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home was last inspected in December 2015. It was found to require improvement in all areas. A substantial improvement plan was identified which consisted of five requirements and two recommendations. At the point of this interim inspection, the majority of the requirements and both recommendations have been satisfactorily addressed. This shows that the manager learns from inspection activity to promote the development of her service. Staff champion the young person's educational needs through proactive partnerships with teachers, the IRO and the social worker. They facilitate his attendance and prompt arrival at his educational placement. They attend all education meetings as appropriate and act as his advocates. This regular home- school liaison promotes consistency of approach and fosters positive relationships among all working partners. It helps the young person to see that engagement with education is integral to his emotional stability and the development of self-

p.1

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

esteem. Staff recognise the young person’s achievements, however small, and celebrate them. They ensure that there is a satisfactory balance between organised activities and the young person’s free time. For example, he is encouraged to use public transport to get to the library and also enjoys fun activities such as playing pool with some friends. His views are asked, and taken notice of, in meetings, in key worker sessions, and by staff generally seeking and listening to his views. For example, he makes choices about how he wishes to individualise his own personal space, the activities he wants to pursue and the meal options provided within the home. These practices support his growing independence and help him to experience success.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff help the young person to discover the good things in himself. This has increased his confidence. He is able to appreciate the small changes in his behaviour each week which encourages him to focus on developing resources to overcome his problems. This approach enables him feel more in control than he has experienced with previous services. It gives him an increased awareness that there are actions he can take himself to resolve situations rather than relying on others. This increases his motivation to change. The young person enjoys positive, friendly but professional relationships with staff which are underpinned by effective behaviour management strategies based on praise, incentives and realistic individual targets. This means there have been no physical restraints and only minimal and appropriate use of sanctions. Staff are now trained in all aspects of safeguarding young people, are alert to the young

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

person’s specific vulnerabilities and risks of harm, and are knowledgeable about how to implement safeguarding children procedures. There is good evidence of appropriately collaborative working together relationships with other safeguarding agencies such as the police and youth offending service. Since the last inspection, the quality of risk assessment has improved. All the team have now completed risk management training. They have also completed training in the management of substance abuse. The manager has underpinned this with clearer written guidance for staff as to what they must do in respect of certain risk- taking behaviours. This helps to improve staff confidence and competence in the management of risk issues so that the young person is more effectively safeguarded. This is further apparent in their more consistent approach towards the application of agreed boundaries and control measures. It results in more

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

stability for the young person and improves opportunities for good relationships to develop. The home has improved significantly in terms of decoration and maintenance. It now presents as a homely and comfortable place to live with many pictures and photographs of the young person on display. That said, there remain some poor quality repairs to the kitchen worktop that are not conducive to good food hygiene. The home has a new manager who is in process of applying to be the Registered Manager. She manages three solo occupancy homes. She has invested in strengthening the first line management arrangements in this home so that she can be confident that her standards and expectations are being met as a matter of routine when she is not in the home. The manager is just about to start her appropriate leadership qualification to broaden her own skills and competence, and to comply with regulation. The manager accepts that things clearly had not been good enough at the point of

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the full inspection. She has worked hard to enable staff to get over this legacy and to take on board higher standards. For example, she asked for this home to have the same independent visitor as she has in her other homes because she has found this professional to be very thorough and helpful in the development of her other services. It is very apparent that she acts on this individual’s feedback. The manager is able to demonstrate the actions she has taken to get all her staff up to speed. She has started with up-skilling the first line manager and expecting her to do likewise with the team leaders in the home. In general, the team have been very responsive in taking all the constructive criticism on board. The manager addresses all performance issues robustly. This demonstrates that she is taking effective control. The manager has recognised the strengths and weaknesses of the service and what needs to happen to improve practice. She considers that the judgement from

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

the full inspection helped to give impetus to this necessary change process. However, her development plan requires more detail as to how she is going to make those improvements and monitor their impact. She has started to make suitable amendments to the home’s Statement of Purpose to bring it into compliance with regulation so that placing authorities are clear about the services offered by the home. Nevertheless, it remains a work in progress. It is therefore raised again as a requirement. Notifications about serious incidents are made to all relevant parties but they have on occasions been unduly delayed. These are relatively minor shortfalls that have no adverse impact on the young person’s welfare or safety. The home has significantly improved it’s effectiveness since the last inspection. One requirement and three recommendations are made to further drive forward positive development of the service.

p.3

Information about this children's home

The home is dual registered as a school and a children’s home for up to one young person with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.4

Recent inspection history

14/12/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

p.4

Recent inspection history

25/03/2015 CH - Interim declined in effectiveness

p.4

Recent inspection history

19/11/2013 CH - Interim Satisfactory Progress

p.4

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.

p.4

Requirement Due date

The registered person must compile in relation to the children's home a statement ("the statement of purpose") which covers the matters listed in Schedule 1. The registered person must ensure that the home is at all times conducted in a manner which is consistent with its statement of purpose. (Regulation 16 (1) (5)) 31/05/2016

p.4

Recommendations

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

p.4

Recommendations

 Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations; with specific regard to kitchen worktops and good food hygiene. (The Guide, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should have a workforce plan which can fulfil the workforce related requirements of regulation 16, schedule 1. The plan should detail the process for managing and improving poor performance. (The Guide, page 53, paragraph 10.8)

p.5

Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. (The Guide, page 63, paragraph 14.13)

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.5

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.5

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.5

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.6

Information about this inspection

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

p.6

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.6

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.6