Children's home run by Atlas Healthcare Ltd in Cheshire East

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:

 Children and young people receive good, well planned and individualised care to meet their needs.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Children and young people have opportunities to participate in inclusive activities in the community that would not otherwise be available to them. These broaden their horizons and build life and social skills and self-esteem.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Good liaison with professionals ensures that education provision is appropriately addressed. If this means that a young person moves to a more suitable provision with education on site, this is in the best interests of the child.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Much improved missing person procedures and partnership working with placing authorities ensures the protection of children and young people.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Newly introduced daily support plans, and the ‘A to E’ behaviour management plans, comprehensively identify each young person’s individual vulnerabilities and triggers, and how to manage them.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

 Children and young people learn more appropriate ways of managing their behaviours, which enhance their life experiences now and open up future placement opportunities.

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Statutory Requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person 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 must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(c)) 8 June 2016

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(b)) 6 May 2016

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely domestic environments (‘The Guide to the Children’s Home Regulations including the Quality Standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9). In particular, it is recommended that halls and lounges should have suitable child-friendly pictures and photographs on the walls.  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective, and clear recording. Staff should record information on individual children in a non-stigmatising way that distinguishes between fact, opinion and third-party information. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child (‘The Guide to the Children’s Homes regulations, including the Quality

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Recommendations

Standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4).  In some instances, a child may express wishes that are not always in their best interests, or which may conflict with the views of other children in the home. In such circumstances, the responsible adults will have to balance the wishes of the child against what they judge to be in the best interests of the child and reach a reasonable view about the best way forward in the interests of all. The reasons for reaching any decision will need to be carefully explained to and understood by the child or children concerned (‘The Guide to the Children’s Homes regulations, including the Quality Standards’, page 22, paragraph 4.9).

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Information about this children’s home

An independent provider runs this home and offers residential and short break care and accommodation. It can accommodate up to 15 children and young people aged between five and 18 who may have learning disabilities or emotional/behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

14 October 2015 Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

20 March 2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Good

Children and young people enjoy living in, or having their short breaks in, a spacious home that is fully equipped to meet their needs. The large property is separated into smaller apartments. This provides children and young people with a more homely experience. They are able to have their bedrooms decorated to their personal choice. This further promotes a sense of belonging. A social worker said, ‘I couldn’t fault the care they provide for the children, the kids are so happy here.’ However, the hallways and lounges have an institutionalised feel as a result of the bland, adult-focused decoration. Children and young people enjoy playing in the games room or outside in the large, enclosed garden. This provides them with the opportunity to run, or to ride their bicycles safely. The sensory room is available for those times when children and young people wish to relax in a calming atmosphere. They can move around

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Good

the home and out into the garden freely. Electronic locks on doors prevent them from exiting the building unescorted, in line with their individual risk assessments. More-able young people receive their own key fobs to operate the doors. This effectively builds their self-esteem and promotes their burgeoning independence. A social worker said, ‘They promote independence wherever possible, which is great for (Name) as he is 16.’ Much improved care records incorporate every aspect of a child’s or young person’s life and needs. Excellent individual daily living plans give a clear view of initial plans from assessment, including how to manage negative behaviours and to promote development. Regular reviews reflect the progress made. For example, one young person’s level of respect for females has significantly improved after the careful introduction of a female key worker, and another young person is able to

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Good

sit at the table to eat a meal. A social worker said, ‘They implement strategies really quickly when things are suggested. For example, we had a meeting last week where we are implementing a strategy about her picking at her feet and that is in her care plan already.’

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Good

Children and young people enjoy their time in the home and learn a range of social skills. One young person was described as being ‘able to develop his first real friendship’ with another child in the home. They have numerous opportunities to participate in fun activities together as well as spending time alone with care staff. A young person said, ‘I am the best games player in the home and am better than (Staff name). I am happy here and I like all the things in my room.’ Children, young people and staff evidently enjoy close, trusting relationships with each other. Staff are ambitious for children and young people to safely enjoy their care experiences and to make as much progress as they are able to, in order to improve their future life chances. A staff member said, ‘We need to keep them as safe as possible while giving them the choices, rights and dignity that they would have in normal life.’ Children and young people enjoy an interesting and varied diet. They have a

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Good

choice of three meals in the evening, which gives them the opportunity to try different foods. For one young person, who attends for short breaks, this has been an extremely positive experience. Previously his diet was described as being ‘very restricted and repetitive’ but he is now ‘keener to try new and different foods.’ Children and young people also have the opportunity to learn to cook with the chef. This not only promotes a healthy diet but provides them with new learning experiences. Consistent partnership working with generic and specialist health agencies ensures that there is thorough assessment of children’s and young people’s health needs. They are able to access specialist intervention, including therapy if necessary, in addition to their day-to-day health needs being met. The subsequent progress and improvements include being able to sleep through the night, managing their personal care and being able to demonstrate emotional literacy, in that they can

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Good

identify certain feelings and emotions. All of the children and young people, apart from one, have 100% attendance at appropriate schools where they are making good progress. One young person is only receiving 16 hours of education a week in school at present, due to her presenting behaviours. The home is working with her to provide additional education and with her social worker to identify a suitable provision with education on site. This not only ensures that she receives the best possible placement but also demonstrates that the home is continuing to work in her best interests. Children, young people, their parents and professionals understand the home’s complaints system. There have not been any complaints. Children and young people are encouraged to share their wishes and feelings with their key workers and through a suggestion box. Some of these suggestions, and the manager’s responses to them, are then placed on a ‘You said – we did’ display

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Good

on the wall. It is not clear whether all children and young people understand the display and suggestions have not been recorded in any form of log. Therefore it is not clear whether children and young people receive a formal acknowledgement of their request, whether they understand the decision or whether they are happy with the outcome. Children and young people are encouraged to take part in a range of inclusive activities in the community and within the home’s grounds. For example, woodworking in their own shed or using the trampoline. These pursuits allow them to build self-esteem as they develop social and life skills. An independent reviewing officer (IRO) said, ‘I came to visit (Name’s) shed because he had a great interest in woodwork. I could see how they were managing that and I was quite impressed that they put that in place for him.’

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Good

Contact with family members is fully supported, both on visits in the community and within the home itself. This empowers children and young people to maintain, and in some cases rebuild, important familial relationships. A parent said, ‘I just think it’s a lovely place and I don’t know what I’d do without them. They talk to me all the time, they help me as well as him so I know what to do. He’s come on leaps and bounds since he’s been going there and he’s really happy there.’

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Good

Children and young people learn a range of independence skills, in line with their abilities, that will benefit them in their future adult lives. The comprehensive daily support plans ensure that all staff are aware of the progress that individuals are making and can provide further encouragement. An IRO said, ‘He is doing independence tasks so he is learning to iron and cook and will talk to me about that.’

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Good

A very good locality assessment provides a comprehensive picture of the area in which the home is located. This, coupled with the positive partnership working with local police officers, assists the manager in ensuring the appropriate placement of children and young people within the home. Each child and young person has their own personal range of risk assessments. Careful planning addresses identified vulnerabilities, allowing children and young people to make attachments in the home, as they feel secure and valued. This allows them to embrace new, age-appropriate opportunities which enhance the social and life skills of the children and young people. A social worker said, ‘He needs supervision but they give him room as a person so he can take positive risks, which is really good for him and really helps his self-esteem.’

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Good

The proactive management and staff team are aware of the potential for bullying behaviours. A range of accessible information is available to children and young people, empowering them to understand what bullying is, and providing them with reassurance and protection. The high staffing levels and consistent supervision prevent violent incidents between peers. No children or young people have reported feeling bullied or any bullying concerns. An IRO said, ‘They manage the risk on how (Name) can strike out and hurt people very, very well. They have a level of communication with him which is very good.’

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Good

A much improved missing person policy now links with locally agreed protocols. As a result, more effective partnership working with placing authorities provides better safeguards for young people who may be at risk of going missing or have been absent from the home. High staffing levels, and children’s and young people’s sense of security and belonging, mean that none of those currently resident have had any missing episodes. A parent said, ‘It’s a lovely place, always hands-on with him. He is defo safe there.’ In addition, staff report how beneficial they found recent training about child sexual exploitation. As staff have this knowledge, children and young people would be protected if such a risk were to arise. The home’s much improved behaviour management plan clearly details how to create a safe environment and how to promote positive behaviours. One of the aims of the document states; ‘Celebrate achievement – surround your young

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Good

people with the sweet sound of success. It’s contagious!’ Consequently, children and young people are cared for in an atmosphere of consistent enthusiasm and calm, allowing them to learn appropriate ways of behaving. A parent said, ‘They are doing right with her. I don’t even worry about her when she’s there, she’s so safe. I’m just so thankful for them.’

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Good

The home concentrates on reward as a way of promoting positive behaviours. Sanctions are rarely used, but are not always recorded in sufficient detail when they are. This does not allow children and young people to understand the consequences of their actions fully, or for management to monitor the effectiveness of the sanction.

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Good

Newly introduced individual behaviour support plans clearly identify what staff responses to behaviours should be. These detail specific steps, and positive interventions at each stage. For example, one young person is described as becoming ‘toddler-like’ in his behaviours and that this should be allowed for. Therefore, the introduction of strategies, such as a timer to count down for a change in activities, provide him with advance knowledge of change, reassurance that something else will happen and allow him to prepare, thereby reducing negative outbursts. Children’s and young people’s behavioural improvements allow them to participate in inclusive activities in the community, thus enhancing their social and life skills. A social worker said, ‘(Name) wouldn’t go anywhere but now she will go swimming with them. She is tolerating being round her peers which is lovely. She won’t do this at school. She is tolerating other people being round her,

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Good

which is really nice to see.’ On occasions, physical intervention is necessary to safeguard children and young people. The well-trained staff team only use restraint as a last resort. Full debriefs with all concerned and comprehensive recording of incidents, coupled with the managers’ oversight, ensure that the intervention is appropriate and that all are able to learn from the experience. Children and young people are protected by such measures. A social worker said, ‘They are safe here. If (Name) felt unsafe she would do anything to stop coming and (Name) and (Name) would tell you.’

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Good

The experienced and enthusiastic manager has been in post since November 2015 and her registered manager application is in progress. She holds requisite qualifications and has extensive experience in working with children and young people with disabilities. She has worked at this home for 15 years. An equally skilled and proactive deputy manager ably supports her. Her appointment has proved beneficial for children and young people. A social worker said that there has ‘been a difference since (Name) has been manager, even though they were child focused before, I feel they are a lot more individually focused on each child now,’ and a staff member said, ‘Staff morale has vastly improved since the new manager came.’ The management team has demonstrated its capacity to improve. Children and young people receive better protection, as all of the requirements and recommendations raised at the previous inspection have been fully met.

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Good

Consequently, much improved plans address all safeguarding issues. In addition, proactive contact with placing authorities identify further steps to address concerns around missing episodes, as happened with a past resident. Following these reviews, if it is decided that it is in the best interests of a child or young person to move to a home with education on site, the home works closely in partnership with social workers to facilitate a positive move to the best provision. An IRO said, ‘The home works hard alongside the learning disability service to implement the advice being given as to how to handle him. That in itself is very significant progress.’

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Good

The manager uses children’s and young people’s individual progress sheets to chart their development. The information that the sheets contain enables her to plan additional resources as well as to celebrate with children and young people when they achieve their goals. Examples of this include participating in a local army cadet programme or attending local swimming baths regularly. An IRO said, ‘They have risk assessed and he has made good progress in keeping himself safe.’ The enthusiastic and consistent staff team report that they feel well supported in fulfilling their role. However, records show that supervision sessions are not occurring as often as they should and there is no consistent pattern. This does not provide the management team with a sufficient overview of the staff’s abilities or progress. Nonetheless, good training enables staff to fulfil their role. Compulsory subjects are refreshed regularly and all staff are supported to complete the requisite child care

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Good

diploma. For example, as the chef teaches young people to cook, he is also studying for the level 3 diploma. In addition, excellent new guidance has been prepared for staff on responding to radicalisation. This ensures that all staff’s learning and knowledge is current. Appropriate external audits from an independent visitor are now taking place within requisite timescales and in line with legislation. The manager’s detailed and thorough internal monitoring reports inform the home’s development plan. Information captured in this way is used positively to improve outcomes for children and young people and to raise staff morale. For example, the introduction of the ‘A to E’ behaviour management process and a new ‘Conversation into Action’ group ensures that staff views are gathered and used. A staff member said, ‘I love my job and I look forward to coming to work every day.’ Children’s and young people’s growth in personal development, in self-esteem and

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Good

in managing aggressive behaviours demonstrate that the home is meeting the aim in their statement of purpose, that ‘Staff believe that each child is unique and as far as possible their individual needs should be met and their potential developed, regardless of their disability. We feel that this is best achieved in a stimulating environment of nurture, care and consistency, where the children have confidence in the staff and feel safe.’ However, the most recent version of this document has not been sent to the regulator in line with legislation. The management team now proactively challenges other services when their responses to meet a child’s or young person’s needs are not effective. This is particularly the case with education providers. Parents and professionals all report positively about the care that children and young people receive and about their relationship with the management and staff

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Good

team. This consistent partnership working allows children’s and young people’s changing needs to be re-assessed when necessary, and to be met. This includes moving a child or young person to a more appropriate long-term placement when needed. The confidence that parents gain as a result of the support they receive from the home also enhances children’s and young people’s family lives. A parent said, ‘Everything’s 100% and more. I’m really happy with the care she receives. (Name) loves it there, she actually asks to go,’ and an IRO said, ‘They have been very good at facilitating contact with his mum. It’s a very positive and a very enjoyable experience.’

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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, work- based 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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