Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Rochdale

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:

 Young people have positive relationships with staff, contributing towards their security and overall progress. Involvement and consultation is forefront to the ethos of the home, supporting child-centred practice.  Education is effectively promoted. Attendance is encouraged through incentives as well as working in partnership with young people and educational staff.  Staff have high aspirations for young people and this is reflected within their day-to-day engagement, encouragement and support.  Healthcare is promoted well, including supporting access to community healthcare professionals and via the organisation’s therapy team. Where additional specialist support is required, for example with smoking cessation, staff are proactive in accessing this for guidance.  Communication with social workers and other professionals is of a consistently high standard, ensuring cohesive responses to individual needs.

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The children's home provision is good because:

 Young people receive support to develop skills at age-appropriate levels in preparation for moving on to independence.  There is one shortfall in relation to window coverings to promote privacy on two windows overlooked by neighbouring properties.

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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 children, they will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children's homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislation (alarms, food, hygiene and so on). However, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than 'institutional' impression. In particular, in relation to privacy blinds on the windows in the hall and bathroom. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Information about this children's home

This is a private children’s home that provides care and accommodation for one child or young person with emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

26/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Good

The young person living within this solo placed home benefits from strong relationships with staff. They have high aspirations for him and this has helped him to feel secure and confident living at the home. He commented, ‘This home is as it should be; a home.’ Staff work in partnership with other professionals, including education, resulting in a significant increase of engagement in school since living at the home. Through encouragement from the residential and education staff, the young person has taken the opportunity to sit a GCSE art exam a year early with further planned for next year along with a potential apprenticeship. This positive engagement in academic and vocational courses contributes to future life chances and career opportunities. Health is positively promoted through access to community healthcare professionals, ensuring that healthcare needs are met. Additionally, staff provide advice and information about healthy lifestyle choices, for example encouragement

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Good

with smoking cessation. They also plan menus with the young person who undertakes basic budgeting, shopping and cooking in preparation for independent living. Engagement in activities, including indoor climbing and access to outdoor activities, develops interests in activities and hobbies that can be continued, which also support this, as well as the opportunity to develop friendships and contacts within the local community. A recent holiday offered the opportunity for additional leisure and social activities. Staff are aware of the importance of young people maintaining contact with family and significant people, promoting this effectively. This enables the young person to have positive experiences of seeing family members and having an understanding of their social history and culture. Where there are restrictions in place, these are adhered to. Achievements are fully celebrated and encouraged. Other professionals comment

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Good

positively about the staff and the relationship with the young person. An independent advocate said, ‘It is really nice to see (name) so settled within the home. The difference it has made to him has been exceptional. He feels safe and happy and is positive about his future. The relationship he has with the staff fully supports this, which is evident whenever I visit or speak with him.’ The social worker also said, ‘This placement is evidently beneficial for (name). He has secure attachments with staff and is genuinely happy living here.’ The young person confirmed this by saying, ‘I think this is how all homes should be, a comfortable home with people who care about me as a person and want me to have a chance to do well. They ask me what I want and include me in all decisions about my time here and what I want in the future. I know I can speak with anyone if I have any worries and they help me to get the support I need.’

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Good

The young person is receiving effective help and support to promote safety and well-being. He feels secure and comfortable at the home and says that the staff take a genuine interest in him. They explain expectations and have high aspirations for him. Since living at the home, there have been no periods of absence or incidents of going missing, which previously happened. The young person says, ‘I am happy here and it has now been agreed that I will stay here at least until I finish school and possibly longer. This has been good to hear because it feels right.’ Individual risk assessments link into the care plan and clearly identify known and potential risks and the management of these. Discussions with the young person make sure that he is aware of any concerns and the strategies to manage these. This means that the staff are open and honest with him and help him to understand his welfare is central to their practice. His social worker says that the

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Good

home works in partnership with her and speaks highly of how well staff respond to any issues of concern by implementing clear plans, providing consistency and encouragement. Staff provide consistent strategies to manage behaviours. There have been no incidents of physical interventions and sanctions are minimal. Positive behaviours are clearly encouraged. The young person says, ‘This is good because I feel they treat me as an individual and understand me. They talk with me if I am upset about something and also recognise when I have worked hard at something. This place feels like a home and is not all about rules.’ There has been a consistent staff team within the home, with the majority of staff having worked for the company for a significant period of time. New staff are subject to robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all measures are taken to safeguard young people. Staff work closely with the designated officer and police when there are issues of

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Good

concern. Previous incidents with the local community when other young people lived at the home have been addressed, with no further concerns raised. Staff and the young person are keen to ensure that they have a cordial and positive relationship within the community. The home is situated in a residential area, with good transport links to nearby towns. The area risk assessment includes details about the area and resources. This is reviewed regularly to ensure that it contains current, relevant information. The home is maintained to a good standard and provides a homely and welcoming environment. However, there are two windows that do not currently have any curtains or blinds in place. As these are overlooked by other houses, this could impact on privacy. All other health and safety checks are completed to make sure that the home is safe for young people to live in.

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Good

The manager was registered in November 2014 and has experience of working with children and young people. He is currently completing his level 5 qualification in management to further underpin his knowledge and professional development. He is supported in his role by a first line manager, who also has relevant qualifications and experience. The vast majority of the staff team members hold level 3 qualifications in working with children and young people. Where staff do not hold this qualification, there are clear plans in place to commence this training in the near future. The staff rota ensures that there is always a suitably qualified and experienced member of staff on duty. Staff receive regular supervision to support them within their role and to enable them to reflect on their practice. Annual appraisals are in place and include the views of other professionals and the young person. The home operates in accordance with the aims and objectives of the statement of

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Good

purpose. This document is kept under review to ensure that all information is current and reflective of the home and facilities offered. Placing social workers confirm that the statement of purpose is provided to them and also explained to the young person. A child-friendly information pack contains information about the home and what they can expect living there. It also provides details of other organisations that they may find helpful. Staff provide child-centred care and support, have high aspirations for young people, as well as creating a safe, nurturing and homely environment. Other professionals speak positively about the commitment of staff. One professional said ‘Staff have the young person’s best interest at the forefront of their practice. He feels very happy and settled at the home and this is evident in how he presents himself and the positive comments he makes about living there.’ Independent monitoring of the home provides additional evaluation to the

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Good

management monitoring. It provides additional scrutiny to the care, support and outcomes for young people. The manager ensures that any recommendations are actioned and provides clear timeframes for this, as with the case of requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection. Case records are complete and there is a clear assessment in place with regards to physical intervention.

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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 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 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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