Children's Home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Warrington

Outstanding

The children's home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the home contribute to significantly improved outcomes for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

 A comprehensive impact risk assessment ensures that young people are suitably placed at this home. Detailed transition plans mean that young people leave this home in a planned way.  Young people say that they feel safe here. They become increasingly safe because there are excellent systems of support in place. This includes consultation with a range of professionals to ensure that young people receive optimal care.  Communication with young people is key to the success of the home. High levels of consultation mean that young people have a clear voice and as such have a strong sense of belonging. They are supported extremely well to make decisions about their own well-being, be an integral part of their plans for their future and are given guidance to improve their behaviour.  Excellent consultation and liaising with educational professionals has meant that young people have transitioned into educational placements that were

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The children's home provision is outstanding because:

not thought possible. Young people have maintained these placements and completed exams to assist them in their future careers.  Young people’s health has significantly improved because of the excellent systems at the home. For example, they have received orthodontist treatment, reduced their misuse of illegal substances, attended a smoking cessation clinic and have put on weight.  All staff work tirelessly to ensure that young people get the right support. The manager and staff are excellent advocates for young people. This means that young people say that they are assisted to raise concerns when necessary.  Members of staff receive additional training to effectively support young people’s individual needs.  A dynamic, well-qualified and inspirational manager leads the staff team effectively. She uses the internal and external monitoring reports of the quality of care in the home extremely well. This means that the home

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Information about this children's home

This privately run children’s home can accommodate one young person with emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 04/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 28/05/2015 Full Good 09/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/08/2014 Full Adequate

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Outstanding

Young people are admitted to this home in a planned way. The manager has devised a new impact risk assessment which includes ensuring that information is gained from a variety of professionals already involved in the young person’s care. The young person’s views are gained about their presenting behaviours and how this can be managed best from their perspective. As a result, staff can adapt the home, their practice and have plans in place prior to the young person’s arrival. The current young person said, ‘I knew I was coming here and there was a plan for me to visit and then move in. But, the manager had spoken to me and sent me a booklet about the home. Once I read it, I wanted to move in quicker because it looked great.’ These excellent arrangements have enabled the young person to settle in very well. After a period of time, the manager reflects on the impact risk assessment to see if there is any other information that she could have gained to

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Outstanding

further enhance the admission process. As part of this process, the manager uses the home’s location risk assessment effectively to ensure that young people are placed in a safe environment. On arrival, young people complete an ‘all about me’ document. This gives staff a quick guide to responding to the young person in the best possible way. The booklet helps the young person to understand their placement and what they need to do to succeed and to meet their short- and long-term goals. This also means that any new staff and staff covering shifts from another home can clearly see what the young person’s plan is, their wishes and feelings and agreed strategies for dealing with incidents. This ensures that the young person receives continuity of care. Due to the excellent admission arrangements, the present young person has settled into the home extremely well. He has made significant improvements in the

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Outstanding

short time that he has been here. Significantly, he describes himself as a fighter and being able to care for himself when out in the community and not needing anybody’s help. But because of the nurturing environment within the home, he has been able to regress and accept care and support from staff. For example, he has been able to say that he loves a specific cartoon character and the home has decorated his room and have bought him bedding in this style. He also spends his pocket money on associated items. This shows that the young person feels safe and secure here and does not fear ridicule or judgement from staff. Young people have seen a significant improvement in their contact with people who are important to them. Past residents went from supervised to unsupervised contact and from sporadic contact to regular contact. This is because the staff team quickly make good relationships with parents and include them in their child’s

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Outstanding

care, the manager has challenged the local authority on having clearer plans in place, and detailed contact plans show the venues, times and contingency plans of all arrangements. These excellent arrangements have meant that young people have been able to repair relationships or form stronger bonds with family members. This has resulted in two young people returning to their home town, in semi-independence placements, close to their family. The current young person is unsure of what contact he wishes to have and staff are continuing to support him in this area. Young people have made remarkable improvements in their health. This is because staff respond to each young person’s individual needs, the home has excellent relationships with health professionals, any identified health need is supported by additional training for staff and young people learn that good health is important. For example, a past resident refused all health checks and appointments. This was

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Outstanding

because he had a fear of hospitals and doctors after two members of his family died. The manager sourced a bereavement training course for staff, so that they could identify with this and discuss strategies to help the young person through this. This was very successful and the young person was supported in receiving missed immunisations and having dental work completed. He also engaged with a variety of health professionals which brought about a significant reduction in him smoking illegal substances, putting on weight to raise his body mass index and having a speech and language assessment which helped the home to understand his cognitive needs. The current young person is being supported in the same manner. He has attended all his health checks and he is being encouraged to eat a healthy diet as he is slightly underweight. He said, ‘I have breakfast now. I never used to and I feel better for it.’ The young person has also met with a clinician and

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Outstanding

has agreed to have some sessions around his emotional health. A significant improvement for this young person is that he has attended a smoking cessation clinic and he has reduced his intake. This is coupled with the home’s response to supporting his love of a cartoon character and he now prefers spending his pocket money on items to do with this, instead of buying cigarettes. The present young person and the last two residents have all made significant improvements within education. They all had a history of non-attendance, behavioural difficulties and exclusions from school settings. One young person left the home with several good exam results that allowed her to gain employment in her home town. Another young person’s plan was to be home tutored because of the difficulties that he presented. However, with the support from staff and a detailed transition plan into education, he was integrated into a school setting. He

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Outstanding

maintained this placement for a year and was able to complete his key skills and gained a qualification in English. Prior to the new young person’s placement, views gained through consultation implied that it would be difficult to find a school placement for him. The young person had also identified that he did not cope well in a large group. A detailed and coordinated plan was put in place to ensure that his educational needs were met. He now attends the company school and he is completing his core subjects. Staff provide one-to-one support in the setting. This runs alongside a practical placement that will support his social skills and offer him qualifications in subjects such as construction and building. He is currently doing a fishing module. The young person said, ‘It is great. I caught 15 fish today. It is quiet and gives me time to think. We do not just fish, we make ponds and calculate how much water is needed etc.’ He continued to say that he wants to be a

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Outstanding

mechanic and has already visited a college to see what exam results he would need to get a place on the course. This means that young people receive tailored packages of education that support them to gain skills for their future. The current young person completes a variety of activities that assist him to use his free time more positively and to channel some of his emotions. He attends a boxing club and a gym. The manager explained that although attending a boxing club may appear to be endorsing his inappropriate physical aggression, it has been put in place to channel his aggression and that he receives appropriate messages about using boxing in the right way. The young person has recently had a holiday at a caravan park and thoroughly enjoyed it. He also attends a youth club in the local area. He has made friends and enjoys playing football with them. There have been some incidents in regards to fighting but the manager liaises with the local

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Outstanding

community police officers and the centre manager to ensure that the home is fully aware of the young person’s movements. Young people have successfully moved from this home in a planned manner. Due to the excellent transition and independence plans, they have maintained their semi-independence placements and employment. One young person who left the home over a year ago, recently travelled up from London to visit the home. A member of staff said, ‘This means a lot to us and shows that we made good relationships with her. To buy her own ticket and to make the long journey to see us, says a lot.’ Another young person’s placement had to be terminated due to him placing himself, staff and others in danger, but because there was an excellent transition plan in place that included a contingency plan, he was able to move quickly. The manager consulted with a range of professionals to get their view on why the placement broke down so quickly, after a good settled period of six

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Outstanding

months. Their thoughts and comments were shared in a staff meeting and staff were able to reflect on what they could have done better. The conclusion was that too many things changed for him in a short period of time. He had finished school, broken up with his girlfriend, came off an electric tag and curfew and was preparing to move into semi-independence. Due to this excellent reflection, staff learned that there were things that they could have done differently. For example, there was a strict boundary of not being allowed to play console games in his bedroom. This was to ensure that he went to bed on time, had a good night’s sleep and was up for education in the mornings. However, when the school term finished, staff relaxed this boundary and this had an adverse effect on his normal routines. Therefore, the staff team learned the importance of keeping the same structure and routine to a young person’s day.

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Outstanding

The present young person says that he feels safe, protected and well cared for at this home. He described members of staff as ‘fun’, ‘caring’, ‘fantastic’ and ‘approachable’. He said, ‘It is great here and I love to banter with the staff.’ Staff at this home quickly realised that the young person had not received much praise or encouragement in the past. Resulting in him having low self-esteem and confidence. Members of staff noticed the change in him when giving him positive or complimentary comments. They had an innovative idea to put these comments into a book. Members of staff write about funny things that have happened, what he has done well and memorable events. The young person really likes this book and reads it often. The manager reflected on this approach and found that the young person’s learning style was through reading and repetition of reading things. Therefore, the home has also devised a life story book for him. This records the

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Outstanding

positive and negative things about his day, what he has achieved, meetings held and general facts. He can then comment on how he feels his day has gone. These things are helping him to gain confidence, reflect on incidents and understand his journey in this placement. As a result, his behaviour is steadily improving. In conjunction with this, there has been a reduction in the young person’s ‘magical thinking’. He does not make up stories or events to gain attention. The home’s risk assessments give a clear understanding of what the concern is and what the agreed strategies and actions that members of staff need to take, if an incident was to occur. These are reviewed regularly and the young person’s views are gained as part of this process. This regular review ensures that risk assessments remain current, are amended after an incident and archived if they are no longer relevant. The manager has recently put in a new risk assessment

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Outstanding

around medical treatment for the current young person. He used to fabricate injuries or illnesses to receive treatment and he is now refusing treatment for known or visible injuries. For example, he punched a wall and his hand was swollen but he refused to get treatment. The risk assessment clearly gives members of staff information on assessing the injury, applying first aid and taking emergency action when it is deemed necessary. This will ensure that any medical concern is not overlooked. These comprehensive records, coupled with the excellent relationships, the nurturing environment and additional support services that young people receive, have ensured that young people significantly reduce their negative behaviour. For example, the last resident significantly reduced his criminal behaviour, his aggression, using illegal substances and he engaged well with community services. The result of these reductions enabled him to go to school,

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Outstanding

have free time in the community and he was able to respond more appropriately in negative situations. The current young person has not been in placement for very long. However, he is making small steps and measurable progress in reducing his negative or inappropriate behaviour. For example, his swearing was problematic and he often did not know he was swearing. He is now talking more appropriately and has positive conversations with people. This home often takes young people who have a prolific history of being missing from home. They are extremely successful in reducing these episodes. Prior to being placed, the last resident was reported missing for periods of up to 17 days in a row. Towards the end of his placement, he had not been reported missing for six months. The current young person has also started to reduce his periods of being missing from the home. The home is very successful in this area because it liaises

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Outstanding

closely with the missing from home coordinator from the police, staff listen and include young people in devising strategy’s, the young people respond to the nurturing environment offered, a wide range of activities are provided to keep them busy and learn new skills, staff are proactive in calling and arranging strategy meetings, return interviews are completed and there is a multi-disciplinary approach to addressing and providing the right support. This means that young people become increasingly safe at this home. There have been very few safeguarding incidents to report but when they do happen there is a clear protocol and procedure in place for members of staff to follow. A safeguarding professional said, ‘There has not been anything serious to report. The manager invited me to undertake a presentation to staff, across the homes that she manages, to ensure that staff’s knowledge is refreshed frequently.’

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Outstanding

She continued to say, ‘The manager stands out to me in a positive way.’ As a result, staff demonstrated their roles and responsibilities in these areas, through discussion with the inspector. The current young person has previously been described as a bully or has been targeted by bullies. Staff are working closely with him on understanding the different ends of the spectrum. He has made inappropriate comments on social media and has responded to taunts with threatening comments. A member of staff said that it has been really difficult because the local community know about his background. Therefore, other young people say inappropriate things to him and he responds in a negative way. The home has completed some direct work with him around bullying. This has included watching a specific DVD on the effects of bullying and monitoring his time on social media. Further to this, the young person has met and agreed to see a clinician to talk about his emotional health. Members

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Outstanding

of staff have also completed a further training course on e-safety. This course was specifically identified to look at acronyms, text speak and abbreviations used by young people on social media. This means that members of staff have a clearer understanding when monitoring young people’s conversations. There are clear behaviour management plans and strategies to address or divert negative behaviour, as well as celebrating positive behaviours. The home prides itself on using meaningful rewards to encourage good behaviour. For example, the young person received a cartoon character cushion for attending his medical appointments. When sanctions are applied, young people say that they are fair and they are given the opportunity to make things right. The manager oversees all sanctions so that she can evaluate their effectiveness. This means that she can see if they are proportionate and identify any trends or patterns.

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Outstanding

The current young person lives in a nicely decorated and well-maintained home. He has personalised his bedroom to reflect his interests. The home ensures that all safety certificates are renewed and health and safety checks are undertaken on the property when required. When young people first arrive at the home they are taken through the emergency evacuation procedure. This ensures that they know what to do if a fire was to occur. Members of staff also periodically complete this. This means that young people live in a safe and comfortable environment.

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Outstanding

The manager was registered with Ofsted in April 2015. She has several relevant qualifications in different areas of childcare, she has completed a management qualification and has worked in several childcare environments. This means that she has the experience and the knowledge to lead a staff group and manage the home. She also manages another two children’s homes. She ensures that she spends equal periods of time within each home. Three experienced and qualified deputy managers support her across the homes. As part of her ongoing development she is completing a doctorate in child sexual exploitation. She has been able to use some of the research in staff meetings to inform staff of current issues, and develop their understanding of the complexities associated with child sexual exploitation. The manager is an innovative, inspirational and dynamic leader. She leads by example, she uses research well and consistently reflects on staff’s practice and her

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Outstanding

own. For example, when a placement broke down, she consulted with a wide range of professionals to ensure that an unbiased opinion of the home’s care was given. The information provided was discussed within a staff meeting and members of staff were able to share their own thoughts. This reflection has informed the routines, structure and boundaries within the home. The registered manager is very well supported by three committed and enthusiastic deputies. This means that there is a strong management structure that works well to promote the excellent outcomes for young people. This enthusiasm has a positive effect on the whole staff team. This is apparent in their proud discussions about the young people with the inspector and equally to their commitment to improving the outcomes for young people. One member of staff said, ‘We seek feedback from everybody, especially the young people we care for because we

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Outstanding

want the best for them. We welcome constructive criticism because we learn from it and are then able to improve.’ All staff are qualified in caring for young people. In addition to this, some members of staff hold additional degrees in associated child care specialisms There has been one new member of staff since the home’s last inspection. The recruitment process and associated checks are robust. The longevity of the staff team means that young people receive consistency of care from a staff team that knows them well. The company supports members of staff to undertake further childcare qualifications such as the level 5 in leadership and management. This means that some members of staff have progressed into senior positions within this home or moved to senior positions within the company. This shows that there is excellent appraisal of their practice and further developmental opportunities for members of

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Outstanding

staff to take. Members of staff said that the supervision, training and development opportunities that they receive support them to give excellent, supportive and consistent care to the young person. Staff meetings are held regularly and the young person’s week, incidents and progress are fully discussed. Any additional information from professionals is also shared. This allows staff to discuss openly, debate and make changes to the young person’s care, routine and risk assessments. In addition to this, staff are able to reflect on their practice and to discuss changes in law or training. Members of staff receive good induction training and additional training packages. When young people have identified needs that the staff team require more knowledge on, these are sourced quickly. As a result, members of staff have benefited from additional training in bereavement, e-safety, safeguarding and gang-related subjects. This means that young people receive support that has been

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Outstanding

informed by professionals, legislation, theory and practice. Part of the staff team’s mandatory and refresher training is completed online. The manager has devised a supporting questionnaire to assess their retention of knowledge, how this is put in practice and whether they understand the home’s policies and procedures. This is used effectively within supervision to identify whether more training or a different form of learning is needed. The manager effectively challenges external professionals to ensure that young people receive the highest support and services available to them. She has previously assisted a past resident to raise a complaint about his teacher. She is currently supporting the young person in placement to address some concerns around a professional’s conduct. The young person said, ‘It is great. It needs sorting and I am glad something is being done.’ This shows that young people’s

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Outstanding

views are robustly responded to and effective action is taken. Internal and external monitoring of the home is robust and this means that shortfalls can be quickly identified and rectified. For example, although this home operates extremely well, the manager had identified 21 areas for improvement within her monitoring report. These improvements were taken over to her development plan and informed the excellent changes within the impact risk assessment and transition plans. This shows that the home continues to strive forward and improve.

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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 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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