Children's home run by Adventure Care Limited in High Peak

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . The home continues to provide a good service to children and young people. There are signs of improvement, and the manager has addressed one requirement and three recommendations made at the last inspection, with a resulting positive impact on the service. Specifically, all staff are now either suitably qualified or working towards the required qualification, the home’s location risk assessment has been improved, records and management oversight of physical interventions have improved, and a newly implemented workforce development plan enables the manager to more effectively monitor the training completed by staff. However, two further areas for improvement have been identified at this inspection. These relate to training and programmes of independence work for older young people. All staff members have completed mandatory and additional

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

training that enhances their skills, knowledge and understanding of the children and young people whom they care for. However, despite self-harm being a recent emerging issue, and one which could potentially affect current and future children and young people living in the home, not all staff members have had formal training in this area. Although clear risk management plans guide staff and help to keep children and young people safe, this lack of formal training limits staff understanding and insight into this issue. It ultimately has the potential to limit the effectiveness of practice. Older young people confirm that staff help and support them to develop practical life skills in preparation for the future. However, records and plans in relation to this need to improve. They lack detail in respect of what specific support is required, how this is being addressed, and what progress is being made. As a

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

result, it is very difficult to know whether older young people are being as well educated or prepared for the challenges that they will face in their adult lives as they could be. The manager continues to be dedicated and enthusiastic. She is aware of the home’s strengths and the areas which she needs to develop. Through robust monitoring systems, she reflects on experiences and practice and continues to seek ways of improving the service. Children’s and young people’s progress continues to be good. Instances of challenging and risky behaviours continue to reduce, and all are doing well educationally. One child said: ‘I am no longer doing criminal things. I am back in school and catching up big time. I have had time to think about what I want out of life.’ A parent commented: ‘I have seen a lot of progress. My son’s temper has improved. He is now in the classroom every day. His personal hygiene has improved and he is happier and healthier.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Children and young people speak positively about their experiences and the quality of care that they receive. One child said: ‘There is lots to do. I help care for the horses, I go go-carting and to laser quest and I have joined the cadets.’ Another young person explained that staff are helping her to achieve her goals. She said: ‘They always have my back.’ Children and young people have fun and they feel well supported by the staff team. Well-planned transitions into the home help children and young people to settle quickly. Matching assessment is robust, and some new children and young people spend time on adventure camps prior to moving into the home. This enables them to become familiar with staff and their new rural environment before meeting the other children and young people already established in the home. The most recent young person to move into the home settled quickly. She said: ‘It was not what I

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

was expecting. I have been made to feel really welcome. The staff have been really nice. It feels more like a family [than] a children’s home.’ Children and young people report feeling safe. Detailed risk management plans that are understood and implemented by staff, alongside high staffing ratios, help to keep them safe. For example, in respect of missing, risk management has been particularly effective as there have been no missing incidents since the last full inspection. This is despite some children and young people having a significant history of this prior to living in this home.

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Information about this children's home

This home is registered to provide care for up to four children and young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties, on site, and for a further two children and young people off site for up to 28 days. The home is owned by a private company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

06/01/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

05/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person(s) meet(s) 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

13: The leadership and management standard

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Requirement Due date

In order to meet the leadership and management standard, the registered person must:

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Requirement Due date

2(c) ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child, with specific reference to training in relation to self-harm. 27/01/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that staff help each child to prepare for any moves from the home, whether they are returning home, moving to another placement or leaving to live independently. This includes supporting the child to develop emotional and metal resilience to cope without the home’s support and, when the child is moving to live independently, practical skills such as cooking, housework, budgeting and personal self-care, with specific reference to evidencing the way in which staff are supporting children in this area and what progress they are making. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 17, paragraph 3.27)

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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 that 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 whom 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 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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