Children's home in Stockport

Good

The children's home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Staff have an excellent knowledge of the needs of young people. This is based on good assessment of each young person’s abilities and vulnerabilities using information provided by placing authorities.  Staff are motivated and work well together as a team. The Registered Manager sets clear expectations for staff and promotes a considered approach to young people. This is consistent with the home’s Statement of Purpose.  Young people are well prepared when they move on from the home. Staff provide planned support for young people even after they leave to help them make the transition into new accommodation.  Young people know that staff care about them and want them to do well. They feel that staff listen to them and respect their choices whenever possible. Relationships between young people and staff are very good. As a result, young people generally behave well. Any difficulties are usually managed without the need for physical restraint or sanctions.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 The home works well with placing authorities, schools and other agencies to ensure that young people achieve the best possible outcomes. Strategies to keep young people safe and promote their development are effective.

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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

ensure that staff help each child to achieve the child's education and training targets, as recorded in the child's relevant plans, specifically to support children in completing set homework. (The education standard Regulation 8(2)(a)(i)) 26/06/2015

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  Ensure that the home provides a domestic and homely environment, specifically that children are not routinely required to sign consent forms. (Guide to the quality standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this children's home

 the home provides accommodation for up to 3 children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties  the home is owned by a private company

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

28/01/2015 CH - Interim improved effectiveness

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good

Young people like living here. One young person, when asked to give the home marks out of 10 said, ‘I’d give it 100.’ The quality of the relationships between staff and young people is excellent. Staff are attentive to young people’s needs and their desire for attention. They respond warmly and positively to young people at all times, giving praise for the smallest of achievements and gently reminding them when their behaviour is not as it should be. Young people clearly feel that staff have a genuine interest in them. This helps them to develop attachments to staff which are important in improving young people’s perception of themselves. The motivation of staff to ‘stick with’ young people is evident to professionals who work with the home. A social worker said, ‘Maintaining stability for my young person is massive and the home has done that through their commitment to them.’

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good

Staff provide a range of activities for young people, enthusiastically joining with each other in games and leisure pursuits. These range from playing swing ball and croquet in the garden, to visiting places of interest such as zoos. Additionally, the home keenly promotes young people’s interest in activities within the community. For example, young people attend local youth clubs, and are members of cricket and football teams. One young person loves their weekly attendance at Pony Club. This kind of leisure pursuit is important in ensuring that young people can continue to mix with their peers in the community as well as improving their self-esteem. Staff also promote young people’s awareness of other cultures and beliefs. A recent theme was Buddhism, young people engaging in art activities and discussion to give them an understanding of this different faith.

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good

Staff enable young people to exercise choice wherever possible. Formal meetings are held monthly, to discuss matters such as menus and activities. However, informal discussion takes place constantly, enabling young people to give their views about what is going on in the home as well as their care plans. For example, there is a record of discussion between one young person and their key worker about their behaviour incentive scheme. This was modified in line with the young person’s wishes with an attractive graphic of their targets produced to go on their bedroom wall. A social worker commented, ‘Staff really accommodate the young person’s choices and include them in decision making.’

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good

Young people have excellent school attendance. Occasionally, some young people have difficulties within school. These are managed by staff in conjunction with teachers, this shared approach ensuring that young people know that all adults concerned with them are working together to help them back on track. For example, one young person told staff that they felt unsupported at school and were struggling in some lessons. Staff contacted the school and arranged to meet with the tutor. This enabled teaching staff to be aware of the issues and agree a plan to address them. However, the plan for one young person, specifying that the home’s staff provide structured support for homework, has not been consistently followed. This oversight reduces the opportunity for the young person to make as much progress as they might.

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good

Young people are in good health. The home promotes a healthy lifestyle and encourages young people to make choices which enhance their well-being, for example, in menu planning. The home works well with health professionals to ensure that young people’s needs are met. For example, one young person has recently had their medication regime changed, and the home was asked to maintain a diary of observations of behaviour. This was important in providing information to help determine future diagnoses and treatment options.

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good

Young people feel protected, one young person saying, ‘I know the staff will always look out for me and keep me safe.’ There is no bullying, and staff help young people to develop good relationships with each other. The complaints procedure is transparent, accessible and easy for young people to understand. Young people are very confident about their ability to talk to members of staff if they have any concerns. They are also able to identify a range of adults outside the home that they can confide in if necessary. One young person said, ‘If had a problem could speak to my social worker and have the number for Ofsted if I am ever worried about anything. I know how to make a complaint and I can talk to any of the staff.’ Currently, there are no concerns relating to young people going missing or placing themselves at risk in other ways, including sexual exploitation. In the past, staff have managed safeguarding issues effectively, working well with other agencies to

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good

reduce risk. For example, one young person whose behaviour outside the home raised concerns was the subject of monthly meetings between staff and the placing authority. This enabled concerted action to be agreed which kept the young person safe. For some young people, contact with family members needs to be restricted to protect them from harm. Staff promote and support contact with other relatives such as brothers and sisters. Additionally, young people are encouraged to develop and maintain appropriate friendships outside the home.

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good

The home systematically gathers information on young people before they come into the home. This enables an informed decision to be made as to whether the home can meet the young person’s needs. This process also includes an assessment of the impact the young person might have on others already living in the home. This ensures that young people’s progress is not adversely affected or their welfare compromised. Risk assessments are detailed and are updated to keep pace with young people’s changing circumstances. They enable members of staff to be aware of aspects of young people’s behaviour which may place them at risk, and ways in which these can be minimised.

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good

Staff are highly consistent in applying boundaries within the home. These are tailored to individual young people’s needs rather than being applied in a blanket fashion. Such consistency of approach provides young people with certainty and security. One young person said, ‘I know what the rules are, and I’m happy with them.’ Staff have a keen awareness of the significance of physical touch for young people, particularly for those who have experienced abuse in the past. As a result, staff provide caring physical contact when young people seek it but always in a way which is appropriate. They are clear with young people about why they do this, and young people themselves have learnt the right way to give hugs and cuddles. As a result, young people know that they are valued and respected by the adults in the home and will always be treated with dignity.

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good

Young people’s behaviour is sometimes challenging and occasionally destructive. Staff manage such incidents with understanding, being sensitive to young people’s emotions and aware of the impact of past experiences on present behaviour. A member of staff said, in describing their approach to young people, ‘We know the issues that they have had before they came here but the past is the past. We need to let them know they are cared for and that we have their best interests at heart.’ The consistency of boundary setting has helped young people to developed increasing awareness of their own behaviour and its impact on others. A young person commented, ‘When I’m angry or upset, staff help me to get over it. I’ve got better at controlling my feelings and don’t lose my temper as much.’ Accordingly, the use of physical restraint to manage behaviour has reduced significantly.

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good

Staff are aware of the potential risks to young people in accessing the internet and social media. They work with the young people to help them understand how to manage such interaction safely. Staff have recently undergone training to refresh their knowledge of this continually changing issue. Additionally, the registered provider is planning to update the technology within the home to provide young people with safer access to social media sites.

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good

The Registered Manager is experienced and suitably qualified. She provides strong leadership to her team and is assisted by three senior members of staff. The home’s Statement of Purpose is clear in setting out the ethos of the home and how it is applied. Staff are well supported through regular professional supervision and annual performance appraisal. Induction training for new staff ensures that they are promptly prepared for the complex task of looking after young people.

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good

Staffing numbers are sufficient to provide a good standard of care, keep young people safe, and attend to their individual needs. There is a good gender balance within the team, providing both male and female role models for young people to spend time with. The recruitment and vetting of staff is sound, ensuring that only people who are suitable to work with children are employed. Young people have a role in the selection process, which is being further developed by the registered provider. The effectiveness of the home’s organisation and management has a direct positive impact upon the overall quality of care. This is recognised by people who work with the home. A social worker said, ‘The home continues to keep my young person safe. Staff are great at facilitating their access to therapeutic services, and I am very happy with the service the home provides.’ A parent commented, ‘It is a well-managed home. It is homely and the staff are lovely and

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good

very supportive to me and my child. It is a happy environment with staff that care.’

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good

Monitoring systems, both internal and external, are good. They enable the Registered Manager to evaluate patterns and trends and so identify the home’s strengths as well as weaknesses. Young people’s records are very comprehensive and enable a picture of each young person’s progress to be built up over time. Young people are able to see their care plans and comment on them. Those who are particularly young have bespoke documents which replicate the plan in age- appropriate language. A social worker said, ‘It’s impressive how the home has developed additional documentation so that the young person can understand their plan more clearly.’ Case records also contain a number of forms which young people are required to sign to give their consent to or understanding of such matters as use of mobile phones, the complaints procedure, and bedroom checks. This practice is institutional, unnecessary, and detracts from the otherwise homely

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good

The home is welcoming, well-equipped and attractively decorated. Young people have a choice of décor for their bedrooms, and are encouraged to personalise their private space. Maintenance and repair processes are very effective. For example, some vandalism to a staircase was repaired invisibly within two hours of it occurring. This ensured that young people who may have been distressed by seeing this damage were not even aware that it had happened. It also conveys to young people the value that staff place on providing a good environment for them.

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What the inspection judgements mean

The experiences and progress of children and young people are at the centre of the inspection. Inspectors will use their professional judgement to determine the weight and significance of their findings in this respect. The judgements included in the report are made against Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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What the inspection judgements mean

An outstanding children's home provides highly effective services that contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help and protection and care. Their progress exceeds expectations and is sustained over time. A good children's home provides effective services that help, protect and care for children and young people and have their welfare safeguarded and promoted. In a children's home that requires improvement , there are no widespread or serious failures that create or leave children being harmed or at risk of harm. The welfare of looked after children is safeguarded and promoted. Minimum requirements are in place, however, the children's home is not yet delivering good protection, help and care for children and young people. A children's home that is inadequate is providing services where there are widespread or serious failures that create or leave children and young people being

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What the inspection judgements mean

harmed or at risk of harm or result in children looked after not having their welfare safeguarded and promoted.

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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 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

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Information about this inspection

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

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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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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