Children's home run by Greenacre Care Services Limited

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 .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been two admissions and one discharge. One child has continued to live there which means that he has remained in this home for more than one year. Living in this home has provided him with continuity in education. This has resulted in some improvements in his ability in mathematics and English.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children make very good progress from their starting points. Those with previous histories of being involved in crime and gang affiliated activities in other locations reduce these behaviours. A representative from one youth offending team said, ‘Offending has reduced, and there has been a remarkable turnaround.’ One child said, ‘My life would not be the same if it was not for this place and I know that if it was not for the support of the staff here I would be in jail. I feel safe and happy here.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Missing from home episodes continue but the frequency of incidents is reducing significantly. One of the children has not been missing at all, which is a meaningful achievement. The staff act appropriately, encouraging the children to think about the consequences of their actions. When children do go missing the registered manager efficiently liaises and shares information with the police and the placing authorities. Where possible, the manager maintains communication with the children. This approach results in the children making safer decisions. Generally, the registered manager keeps Ofsted informed of incidents which occur in the home. But, on two occasions when one child was missing for considerable lengths of time, necessitating police activity, notifications to Ofsted were not made. This shortfall has no direct impact for the children or for the other agencies working with the home but it does not ensure that Ofsted has a current view of incidents in

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Physical intervention is not used. The registered manager continues to be the key individual involved in the direct delivery of care and support to the children. She and the staff work sensitively and skilfully to support each child with the issues relevant to their circumstances. This includes helping to process difficult emotions emerging from, for example, family contact and making referrals to local drugs and alcohol services. This approach helps these children to know that there is an extended external network of support available. This reduces these children’s isolation from wider society.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some new staff have been recruited. This includes a service development manager whose role is to provide management support to the registered manager. The recruitment process is robust and reflects regulatory requirements. Of the recruitment files sampled, all of the new staff have the required level 3 diploma in residential childcare which means that they bring social care experience to the role.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Brought to the manager’s attention by the children, one newly recruited member of staff grossly breached the home’s lone working policy. The provider took decisive action to refer matters to the designated officer for the locality, to notify all relevant agencies, to investigate and to dismiss the staff member. This demonstrates that the leader’s and the manager’s processes are transparent and child centred.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some of the regulations made at the full inspection are met. The registered manager has re-enrolled and is completing the required level 5 management and leadership diploma. However, the formal training for all staff specifically in relation to safeguarding and fire awareness remains a work in progress. The result is that this regulation remains unmet and is therefore repeated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children have friends who come to visit the home. The registered manager has been responsive to a small number of complaints from the local community about the children’s behaviour. The records demonstrate the actions taken in the home to reduce some nuisance caused in the local area. The result is that the complaints from the neighbours have reduced and some relationships with some neighbours have improved slightly. This helps the children to experience some acceptance from within their local community.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The children like the home. One placing authority said, ‘Our child has told us that he will not live anywhere else.’ However, aspects of the interior require attention. For example, some damage caused by the children to the bathroom door on the first floor and damage to the walls and woodwork in the upper hall substantially detracts from an environment that has the potential to be consistently homely throughout. This shortfall in regulation means that these features of the internal environment do not demonstrate to the children that they are completely valued.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Communication with placing authorities, police and youth offending teams continues to be a key and significant strength of this home. These effective professional relationships contribute considerably to the children’s progress. One agency said, ‘We are impressed with the support that our child receives.’

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Information about this children's home

This is a privately owned home registered to provide care for up to four children who have behavioural and/or emotional difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/04/2016 Full Good 12/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 16/06/2015 Full Requires improvement 08/07/2014 Full Good

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions which must be taken so that the registered person meets 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 must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that all employees undertake appropriate continuing professional development with specific reference to refresher safeguarding training and fire awareness. (Regulation 33 (4) (a)) 31/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

6 The quality and purpose of care standard In order to meet the quality and purpose of care standard the registered person must ensure that: (2) (c) (i) (ii) the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to meet the needs of each child. This is with specific reference to the bathroom door on the first floor landing and the upper hallway, and the walls and woodwork. 31/03/2017

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Consistently implement regulation 40 (4) which requires the registered person to notify Ofsted if one of the situations specified in regulation 40 (4) (a)–(d) occur. (‘Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63 paragraph 14.10) This is with specific reference to occasions where children go missing from the home and the police are notified.

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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 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, workbased 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

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Information about this inspection

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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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