Children's home run by Broadwood Education Services in Rossendale

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged to require improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness . Since the previous inspection, concerns were evident about the safety of young people and the suitability of them living together. The manager and the local authority decided in October 2016 to find an alternative home for one young person. He subsequently moved on 15 November 2016. As only one young person now lives in the home, the manager has been able to provide a core staff team, which upholds consistent boundaries and has a positive relationship with him. He responds well to this, and, as a result, unsafe behaviours previously evident have now reduced significantly. Prior to one young person moving out of the home, there had been 36 occasions of young people going missing from care since the previous inspection. It is understood that, some of the time, young people were putting themselves at risk

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

through taking psychoactive substances and getting involved in criminal activity. However, and importantly, the current young person has gone missing only once since 16 November 2016, and he has stopped meeting up with the contacts who were previously exploiting him. Therefore, the action taken by the manager and the good work from staff have had an immediate, positive outcome for him. The current young person continues to have reasonable attendance at school. He has completed an award in information technology and developed his reading skills. His most recent education report states that he ‘is becoming an independent, confident learner’ and that he is an ‘absolute pleasure to take off site and always manages to make us [staff] smile’. The young person has good opportunities to remain in touch with his family. The young person is engaging in weekly sessions with the youth support services to help him understand and address his previous difficulties.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has successfully addressed the requirements made at the previous inspection and following a monitoring visit in October 2016. As such, all young people have an education placement and now attend their health appointments. Staff are helping the current young person to learn how to keep himself safe, and there has been no need for police to attend the home. The manager has sufficient staff to provide continuity of care to the young person who is resident. The manager has dealt with all safeguarding concerns and complaints appropriately. The local authority children’s services and Ofsted have been informed as necessary. Investigations have been concluded, and one referral has been made to the disclosure and barring service, as required. Staff are positive about the changes that have been made over the last three months. They work well together and feel that they are effectively supported in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

their roles by each other and by the manager. A core staff team and the young person living by himself have been instrumental in turning around the negative events evident from last year. The manager must ensure that the local authority provides independent return home interviews after each occasion of a young person going missing from home and within the necessary timescale. The information gained from these interviews is vital to inform the home’s risk assessments and the police’s response. The manager is also required to ensure that all of the home’s protocols for responding to the young person when he goes missing from the home are up to date and accurate.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by a national provider of education and care services.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

15/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

 The registered person must specify the procedures to be followed and the roles and responsibilities of staff when a child is missing from care or away from the home without permission, and how staff should support the child on return to the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.28)  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 the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.30)

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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 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 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 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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