Children's Home run by North Lakes Children’s Service Limited in Cumbria

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding at the last full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people at this home continue to benefit from an extremely high level of care that is tailored to their individual needs. Their needs can vary significantly and there is a very good understanding among staff and managers about their singular personal needs, which is bolstered by additional research, expert advice and specifically commissioned training.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been some significant changes to the staff team since the last inspection. Managers have worked hard to ensure that staffing levels have remained consistent, and have covered shifts themselves on a regular basis. New staff have been recruited and are starting to make a positive contribution to the team. Young people report that, although they have very good relationships with existing and new staff, they do miss their close bonds with the staff who have left.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are highly positive about the home and the care that they receive. One young person spoken to said, ‘Coming here has changed my life’, acknowledging the significant impact of the home on his life chances. All young people spoken to report that they have positive relationships with each other and with staff, and that there is always someone whom they can speak to in the event that they have any concerns or are upset.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home works in conjunction with a wide range of external agencies to support young people’s needs across all areas. Young people’s emotional needs are particularly well addressed through a range of support services. Young people are educated at a school that is also run by the provider. Strong links and good communication ensure that coordinated care is delivered and that education is supported at the home. One child has speaking and reading time with staff every night, to promote speech and language development, and is making such good progress that he no longer requires speech therapy.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transitions into and out of the home are carefully managed. Two young people have moved on to other homes within the company which cater for the older age range. Both of these have been very successful and other similar moves are planned. Young people manage the transitions well, because they have been well prepared and have existing relationships with the young people and staff at their new home. Admissions are thoroughly matched and well planned, so that young people settle quickly. The home has plans and risk assessments in place prior to their move and is therefore well prepared to respond to the child’s needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers and staff are strong advocates for children when they believe that the plan for them is not in their best interests, and they express and correctly escalate their views.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Managers are highly effective in monitoring the quality of care and strive constantly to make improvements to the care offered to the young people. Some key documents have been simplified to help staff to feel more confident about completing them. The manager has introduced guidance on completing other documents when areas are identified for development, and has provided additional support through supervision and training when a need becomes evident.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe and feel safe at this home. Risks are well understood and measures are in place to protect young people from harm. When young people expose themselves to risk, this is identified and addressed. Challenging behaviour is generally well managed, although one area identified for further development is to ensure that any sanctions imposed are restorative in nature and are communicated clearly to all staff. When any issues in staff practice relating to sanctions are identified, they are thoroughly investigated with a clear outcome and a plan to address them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people require frequent physical intervention when their placements commence. These are reduced rapidly as young people become familiar with the routines, expectations and boundaries, and as staff become increasingly able to avoid triggers, and to understand and de-escalate behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing from home incidents are a very rare occurrence, and when they do occur are more frequently from the on-site school than the home. The home has good links with local police and follows missing procedures as required when young people remain missing after school hours. Although the home conducts thorough return interviews with young people who go missing, it needs to ensure that independent return interviews are requested from the young person’s placing authority.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There were no requirements or recommendations made at the last interim inspection. While the home continues to provide very high-quality care, the two recommendations made at this inspection have resulted in a judgement of sustained effectiveness.

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private provider and provides a service for up to eight young people between the ages of nine and 14 who may be experiencing a range of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 14/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 24/11/2015 Full Outstanding 20/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 12/10/2014 Full Outstanding

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible local authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return home interview. Homes should take account of information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect each child. (‘Guide to children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Any sanctions used to address poor behaviour should be restorative in nature, to help children to recognise the impact of their behaviour on themselves, other children, the staff caring for them and the wider community. In some cases, it will be important for children to make reparation in some form to anyone hurt by their behaviour, and the staff in the home should be skilled to support the child to understand this and carry it out. (‘Guide to children’s

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Recommendations

homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 46, paragraph 9.38)

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the ‘Inspection of children’s homes: framework for inspection’.

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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 focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

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 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 0300 123 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 children looked after 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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