Children's home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Unique reference number SC401603 Inspector Caroline Jones Type of inspection Interim Provision subtype Residential special school (>295 days/year)

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Registered person ROC Northwest Limited Registered person address Heyes House, 41 Silverdale Road Arnside CARNFORTH Lancashire LA5 0AL Responsible individual Hilary Waterhouse Registered manager Sarah Jane Helliwell Date of last inspection 25/09/2014 2 of 6 Inspection date 05/03/2015

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Previous inspection good Enforcement action since last inspection none

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This inspection

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

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This inspection

Since the last inspection the progress experience and outcomes of young people have largely remained stable. Four out of the five recommendations made at the last inspection have been addressed. For example, monitoring processes have been improved within the home and staff appraisals are in place to quality assure staff performance. However, the recommendation to achieve consistency in the staffing of the home has not been met. Staff turnover has increased since the last inspection and consistency of staffing remains a challenge. Therefore, a requirement is made to ensure young people are cared for by a competent, stable staff team.

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This inspection

Young people are in full-time education and have an excellent record of school attendance. Staff also promote learning opportunities beyond the school day including, electronic learning devices, baking, trampoline sessions and swimming. There are health plans in place to meet young people's needs. However, the training of staff to meet a young person’s particular health need has not been undertaken by all staff to fully ensure their competence.

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This inspection

There are new young people living at the home, whose admissions were well planned. They are beginning to settle in their new environment. Additionally, young people have moved on from the home in their best interests. Staff continue to work well together to address young people's challenging behaviours and physical interventions are reducing. However, the specific health conditions of young people are not taken into account within the behaviour management process, which means that the risk of restraint on a young person's health is not fully determined.

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This inspection

Young people's individual needs are captured through care planning processes that promote their development. Additionally, a key worker system operates to enable young people to forge relationships with staff. Moreover, staff know young people's likes and dislikes well and take the time to learn about each young person's 3 of 6 uniqueness. This enables young people to make choices and decisions about their lives.

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This inspection

Staff confirm that they are well supported and welcome the new practice of the home's management team working care shifts with young people. Although, staff do say that morale is low due to the high turnover of staff. All significant events are notified to the appropriate bodies to share information between the network of professionals to safeguard young people.

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This inspection

The Registered Manager is well aware of the areas for improvement and has plans to address these. Recruitment drives are on-going to gain suitably experienced staff. Monitoring of the home both internal and external is good and promotes care practice. There are shortfalls in practice relating to training, restraint and staff consistency. 4 of 6

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to accommodate up to 15 young people of either gender with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, physical or learning disabilities, mental disorders and sensory impairment. Both full-time and short break care is provided. There is a school on site which is registered with the Department of Education.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/09/2014 Full good 07/02/2014 Interim good progress 26/04/2013 Full good 16/01/2013 Interim good progress

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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 Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Reg. Requirement Due date

(2001) ensure that there is at all times, having regard to; the size of the children’s home, the statement of purpose, and the number and needs of the children accommodated there; and the need to safeguard and promote the health and welfare of the children in the home, a sufficient number of suitably qualified, competent and experienced persons working at the children's home (Regulation 25(1)(a)(b)) 28/04/2015

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Recommendations

5 of 6 To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):

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Recommendations

 ensure that staff have training in relation to young people's complex health needs (NMS 6.7)  ensure that young people's individual health conditions, disability or medication are fully considered in plans for behaviour management and application of physical intervention and restraint. This relates specifically to gaining medical advice regarding ground hold restraints. (NMS 3.14) Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Recommendations

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What inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspections 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

The purpose of this inspection is to assure children and young people, parents, the public, local authorities and government of the quality and standard of the service provided. The 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 relevant regulations and meets the national minimum standards.

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Information about this inspection

The report details the main strengths, any areas for improvement, including any breaches of regulation, and any failure to meet national minimum standards. The judgements included in the report are made against the framework of inspection for children's homes.

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