Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Lancashire

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:

 This service excels at providing a warm, nurturing, homely environment and in quickly establishing open and trusting relationships with the young people.  All the young people are happy, settled, safe and secure at this home.  Young people enjoy taking part in a wide range of constructive activities that have demonstrably increased their self-esteem and confidence.  Staff have the proven ability to work in partnership with resistant families, to quickly re-establish constructive family contact for young people and to ensure that this remains a positive experience for all concerned.  This home actively and effectively supports young people to ensure that they receive the most appropriate education that best meets their individual emotional, behavioural and learning needs, so that they can reach their full potential.  Staff place the well-being of individual young people at the centre of their practice and treat them with dignity and respect at all times, irrespective of the

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The children’s home provision is good because:

significant challenges that they may present.  Staff safely and effectively manage some complex and challenging behaviours without the need to restrain young people.  This home has a strong, child-focused management team that leads by example, providing very clear direction, supervision and support to a highly motivated staff team.  There are particularly good internal auditing systems in place, identifying patterns and trends, key strengths and areas requiring further development. This information is used well to improve practice and outcomes for young people.

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The children’s home provision is good because:

There are two areas requiring improvement, namely, the arrangements in place for ensuring robust independent monitoring of the home and timely independent return interviews when a child returns from going missing.

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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 within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that the home keeps each child safe and protected from harm and in particular, strengthen the detail in impact risk assessments prior to each admission and ensure that timely independent return interviews are undertaken. (Regulation 12(2)(b)) 31/10/2016

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Requirement Due date

44: Independent person: visits and reports

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Requirement Due date

Demonstrate that independent monitoring reports are consistently informed by young people’s views, their parents, relatives and persons working at the home when reaching an opinion about the arrangements for safeguarding and promoting children’s well- being. (Regulation 44(2)(a)) 31/10/2016

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home registered to provide care and accommodation for up to five children and young people who may be experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

It is part of a wider organisation that also provides a school on the same site, which some of the young people attend.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

p.5

Good

All the young people currently living at this home are happy and settled and developing a sense of belonging. Comments include, ‘I give this home 10 out of 10. I choose my meals and activities so I enjoy them all’, ‘We have all just been given our own tablet. It will be great for games and long journeys’ and ‘I have my own hamster and we are looking after the school’s fish over the summer holidays.’

p.6

Good

Good staffing ratios enable the staff to be very attentive to individual needs and preferences. Young people are treated and respected as individuals in their own right, which makes them feel loved and valued.

p.6

Good

The group exercise a genuine choice about contact arrangements in line with any legal directions. This helps them to understand their background and retain their unique identity. One young person is now having parental contact after six years and staff are supporting him with the mixed emotions this creates. The sessions are carefully planned and supervised and he has a safety word if at any time it no longer feels like a positive experience.

p.6

Good

All the young people receive particularly good support from staff to attend educational provision that best meets their emotional, behavioural and learning needs. Effective liaison is firmly established with their educators. Consequently, attendance and engagement has improved for all the young people. For example, one young person had not previously been in school for 12 months. Within a week of moving to this home, he was attending full time and also participated in sports day. Prior to admission, another young person only attended for half days and this was not regular. Within one month, he was in school full time and completing his homework. By the end of term, another young person had successfully reached his expected educational expected targets, so his homework has increased in preparation for mainstream school.

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Good

A headteacher wrote, ‘I very impressed with the progression of this pupil. He now has 100% attendance and is on a full curriculum with extra activities. He has gained an academic qualification a year early and has gained a level 1 in both skiing and rock climbing. He is the school’s anti-bullying champion, attends the school council every week and has a buddying role for new students.’ All these examples demonstrate outstanding progress from their individual starting points.

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Good

Young people have the opportunity to engage in a wide range of constructive activities, which improves their social skills and self-esteem. One young person, who was previously extremely socially isolated, is now enjoying lots of fun activities with his peers. Individual interests and talents are actively encouraged and supported, which further strengthens confidences and competencies. Examples include music production, fishing, pool, golf, cooking and baking. Comments from young people include, ‘I like gardening, so staff have bought me my own tools and I have my own patch to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables’ and ‘I like living here. My favourite activities are bird watching, cinema, free running, trampolining, cycling and scouts.’

p.6

Good

Young people’s health and well-being is actively promoted through timely health checks and good routines. Consequently, one young person’s personal hygiene has demonstrably improved at this home, which has also increased his self-esteem. Another young person has stopped smoking cannabis, which has had a marked positive effect on his physical health, emotional well-being, behaviour and ability to concentrate and learn in school.

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Good

This home also provides homemade, nutritious meals and ensures that all the young people benefit from lots of fresh air and physical exercise. One young person particularly loves swimming. Mealtimes are relaxed social occasions. One young person now feels comfortable eating with his peers and staff, which is significant progress. He is also choosing healthier options and limiting his sweets.

p.7

Good

Young people’s opinions and feelings are central to the day-to-day running of the home, and this increases their self-esteem. The staff also ensure that young people’s wishes are positively acted upon, if it is in their best interests. All the young people engage in frequent individual key-worker sessions, where highly relevant and sensitive issues are fully discussed, and in young people’s meetings, where they choose the weekly menu. This means that they all enjoy at least one of their favourite meals every week.

p.7

Good

There are good opportunities for all the young people to gain age- and ability- appropriate life skills needed to prepare them for future independent living. Recently, they enjoyed their version of ‘Come dine with me’ and one young person planned, shopped on a budget for, and produced a three-course meal, which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Another young person is starting to manage more flexibility in his routines. Comments from young people include, ‘I can now make my own breakfast and I go to the shop on my own and to scouts with my friends because I am trusted to be good and keep safe’ and ‘I was given money in my hand today because the staff say they trust me.’

p.7

Good

One young person has recently moved into a solo placement within this company which is closer to his family and school. This was his specific wish and he still benefits from emotional support from this home. One young person continues to visit him, which demonstrates the excellent relationships established at this home.

p.7

Good

Placing authorities are consistently pleased with the quality of care provided, the progress made and the weekly updates provided. For example, ‘My young person has improved in all areas and especially attending school full time, social skills and activities. He did not previously leave the family home, so this has made a huge difference to his quality of life’ and ‘I remain very happy with the care afforded my young person. The staff are committed to developing independence and encouraging the progression of all the young people in all areas. They have a very good level of understanding and insight into individual needs and are clearly committed to partnership working.’

p.7

Good

The new independent visitor, who recently made his first visit to this home, concluded, ‘It was a pleasure to speak to the young people, who were very happy and settled, confident and making good progress. The condition of the home is excellent and it is homely and cosy. Educational attendance of all the young people really stood out as something the home can be proud of.’

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Requires improvement

All the young people currently in placement feel safe and secure in this home and the local community. They get on well with their peers and confirm that there is no bullying. They also say they have at least one member of staff they feel comfortable talking to about any worries. One young person is particularly benefiting from experiencing positive female role models.

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Requires improvement

Comments from social workers include, ‘This has been an extremely positive placement for my young person, where he is allowed to express his wishes and feelings and feels listened to, safe and secure’, ‘The staff and managers are very child-focused. They have made the effort to get to know my young person and have created an individual care plan based on his needs and interests’ and ‘I am very impressed with the standard of the home and all the staff who work there. They are caring and nurturing and have given my young person the time and space to settle in.’

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Requires improvement

This home excels at providing a particularly nurturing environment, which means that new admissions settle very quickly and start to build trusting relationships with all the staff. In turn, this is enabling them to open up about their feelings about previous traumatic events and discuss more appropriate ways of managing their anger and frustrations. Comments from young people include, ‘I was worried about what it would be like here, but it is the opposite of what I imagined. It feels like a home’, ‘It’s a lovely home and I get on with the staff really well. Some of them are funny’ and ‘Some of the staff are really cool and we have a giggle. I can talk to any of them about my problems. They keep me safe and look after me well.’ This home has accepted a number of young people with highly complex needs and significant risks and vulnerabilities. Although impact risk assessments are always completed prior to any new admission, they do not clearly demonstrate exactly

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Requires improvement

how they intend to meet their unique and diverse needs, safely manage some extremely challenging behaviours and still continue to keep the young people already in placement safe. Also, there is another children’s home on the same site, and a school, so the behaviour of these young people also has an impact on the stability of this home. For example, one young person was recently encouraged to climb onto the roof, thus compromising his safety. The appropriate use of restorative justice ensured that he was not criminalised, but he was still able to reflect on the potential consequences of this incident.

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Requires improvement

The complex mix of young people placed since the last inspection has also resulted in placement notices being served. For example, one young person was making significant progress at this home and to his credit had disengaged from his gang affiliation and associated risk-taking behaviours. Furthermore, he was enjoying age-appropriate activities and having stories read to him before going to sleep. This shows that he felt safe to be a child again. He said, ‘This is the only place where I’ve been good so I’ve never had to be restrained. I’m happy as long as I see my family and the staff have made this happen.’ However, he had not developed the resilience to disassociate himself from negative behaviours and was influenced by a new admission, which culminated in an assault. The registered manager did raise her concerns with the responsible individual and extra support was immediately put in place. Furthermore, following sustained drug misuse,

p.9

Requires improvement

serious assaults on staff and significant criminal damage, admissions have purposely slowed down to regain stability and safeguard all of the young people and staff.

p.9

Requires improvement

Staff clearly place the well-being of individual young people at the centre of their practice and treat them with dignity and respect at all times, irrespective of the significant challenges they may present. They have shown tremendous resilience over an extremely difficult few months and are now enjoying a period of stability. For the last three months, there have been no safeguarding concerns, restraints, complaints, room searches or self -harming incidents.

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Requires improvement

This home emphasises the positive reinforcement of good behaviour and effort. For one young person, this has effectively resulted in him exhibiting appropriate physical contact and safe behaviour when travelling and online.

p.9

Requires improvement

The relatively few sanctions imposed are evaluated by the manager to ensure that they are effective and proportionate to the particular misdemeanour.

p.9

Requires improvement

A key strength of this home is the staff’s ability to safely and effectively manage some complex and challenging behaviours without resorting to physical interventions. Stringent monitoring ensures that when a restraint is necessary, the least restrictive hold is used for the shortest period of time. One young person’s behaviours deteriorated just before Christmas because of the memories this time evoked. He said, ‘I was very angry at the time and I understand why staff held me and I felt safe and happier then. I was upset after because I let staff down.’

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Requires improvement

This home has established effective working relationships with a range of safeguarding agencies. This has resulted, for example, in the serving of abduction orders. One young person whom the home served notice on was involved in sustained anti-social behaviour in the community and encouraged some local youths onto the site, causing disruption and damage. In response, the police made additional patrols of the area. The local liaison officer said, ‘The staff should all be commended for the difficult work they do.’ A youth offending officer said, ‘The young people I work with are particularly complex and this home have worked with us and adapted their style to try to keep them safe.’

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Requires improvement

The local specialist child sexual exploitation team also emphasised ‘this home’s ability to work in a multi-agency environment and adapt their practice to safeguard young people’. Moreover, the management team challenge local authorities if timely strategy meetings are not arranged in line with agreed protocols.

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Requires improvement

There are good auditing systems at this home, exploring patterns and trends and actions to try to reverse these. This shows that for each young person, the frequency and duration of missing from home incidents have markedly reduced at this home. For example, one young person was missing daily for long periods of time at his previous placement. In sharp contrast, there has only been one incident at this home, and then only for a few hours. The young person reflected, ‘I kept myself safe. We were just playing but I was silly for going out with the others because I want to stay here.’

p.10

Requires improvement

For one young person, there were no incidents of going missing for six months, but he did become unsettled up to and following family contact. In fact, the manager cancelled one planned contact as the young person was getting too anxious.

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Requires improvement

However, despite clear evidence of escalation, the arrangements in place to ensure timely independent return interviews are still not effective. As an example, one young person was only spoken to by someone independent of the home three times out of a possible 28. In response, this home no longer contracts with this placing authority. Moreover, of the few independent interviews that do take place, the information is not shared with the home to reflect on their practice, review strategies and revise individual risk assessments to try to prevent a recurrence.

p.10

Requires improvement

Internal and independent health and safety checks are undertaken at the required frequencies, which ensures a safe and well-maintained building. Visitors to this home are always impressed with the standard of accommodation and the homely atmosphere. Young people like their personalised bedrooms and an independent visitor highlighted, ‘One young person has a massive amount of games, books, DVDs and toys in his room’. One young person said, ‘I have chosen the colour of my room and posters of my favourite football team.’ Another young person is now tolerating more items in his room and is no longer putting graffiti on his walls. This is significant progress and shows he is starting to invest in this placement.

p.10

Requires improvement

The stringent recruitment and selection processes in place ensure a safe workforce.

p.11

Good

This home is well-managed. The registered manager is suitably qualified and has 17 years’ experience in this position. She provides clear direction and good support to her team. She is very child-focused and passionate about offering a nurturing environment and leads by example.

p.11

Good

In turn, she benefits from a strong deputy. Together, they ensure good staffing ratios at all times to meet the diverse and highly complex needs and unique personal preferences of all the young people.

p.11

Good

Staff confirm their receipt of regular, good-quality supervision that supports and challenges their individual performances. This enables them to continually improve their practice. They also feel comfortable to explore issues openly and honestly in team meetings, thus ensuring an agreed and consistent approach to meeting individual young people’s needs. One member of staff said, ‘I like working here. The staff team is strong and supportive and there is always a manager on duty. The handovers are very good.’

p.11

Good

A robust system of probationary reviews is firmly established to monitor progress of all new appointments, including internal promotions.

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Good

Staff also benefit from continuous and relevant training opportunities. These are purposely offered to meet organisational needs, their own professional development needs and the specific needs of the young people currently living in the home.

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Good

The working relationships between the school located on the same site, the company’s therapeutic service and the care team are particularly strong. This means it is a sought-after resource, reflected in receiving 400 referrals since its registration in November 2015. It can accommodate up to five placements. The maximum to date has been four, apart from a short period of time over Christmas. The registered manager has been resolute in not admitting more than three young people at any given time since. This is to ensure that young people remain settled and safe and to avoid serving placement notices.

p.11

Good

A key strength of this home is securing excellent partnership working with families, which in turn positively promotes young people’s sense of identity. Families also feel actively involved in care planning and say that their opinions are genuinely respected. Consequently, they are highly satisfied with the quality of care provided at this home. Comments include, ‘My son has settled well at this home and the staff’s communication with me is good’ and, ‘My son is kept safe at this home and I am pleased he now goes to school and gets involved in activities.’

p.12

Good

The internal monitoring processes in place provide a rigorous, evaluative and analytical assessment of the home informed by the views of young people, parents and stakeholders. The appropriate actions to continually improve are discussed and agreed with the staff team, so there is a strong sense of shared responsibility and accountability.

p.12

Good

Required documentation is maintained at a good standard. Independent visitors highlight ‘child-friendly placement plans and extremely detailed risk assessments that are regularly updated and both demonstrate young people’s input’.

p.12

Good

The two requirements made at the last inspection on 23 November 2015 have been addressed. Consequently, restraint records are now in good order and show that young people have the opportunity to reflect on the incident to try to prevent a recurrence. Comments include, ‘I understand that staff only want to keep me safe and stop me hurting myself, but I was sad and annoyed about my mum not turning up for contact’ and ‘It was all getting too much for me and I lost control. I will go to my bedroom next time.’

p.12

Good

Independent monitoring visits are now conducted every month. However, the manager has raised concerns about inaccuracies and the general quality of the reports produced. They are also regularly taking place when young people are at school. This means that there are minimal meaningful consultations with young people and the staff who support them in school. Moreover, despite recorded efforts, there is no feedback at all from parents or relatives. In response, the organisation has sourced another provider to undertake monthly independent monitoring visits from August 2016.

p.12

Good

Two recommendations were also made at the last inspection with regard to ensuring robust impact risk assessments prior to every admission and timely independent return interviews after every missing from home incident. As there are still shortfalls in both these matters, thus compromising young people’s safety, a requirement has been raised to address this. The impact is reflected in the help and protection section of this report.

p.12

Good

The statement of purpose is regularly reviewed and revised as necessary to ensure that it always accurately reflects the current aims, policies, practices and staffing of the home.

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Good

Detailed notifications of significant incidents are forwarded to Ofsted in a timely manner and regular updates are provided. These demonstrate that correct procedures are followed and effective collaborative working is well established with all relevant safeguarding agencies to try to prevent a recurrence and thereby ensure young people’s continued protection.

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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 children looked after 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 that 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 that 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 whom 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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