Children's Home run by Thunderbolt Mobile Limited in Lancashire

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The service continues to provide young people with an alternative package of care. Young people live in single-occupancy accommodation which provides them with security and an opportunity to reflect on their previous experiences. Carefully planned arrangements ensure that young people follow a programme of education and outdoor activities. Accommodation is varied. Young people experience camping and have opportunities to stay in holiday cottages, caravans and a narrowboat. Well-organised planning ensures that young people have access to local health services, education, and opportunities to make and sustain new friendships. Young people are well-supported to change their ways and modify their behaviour.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have made very good progress since the last full inspection in June 2016. Two young people have successfully moved on from the service and are now settled and living in the community. One young person remains accommodated on the narrowboat. Referrals are considered carefully, but sometimes young people can be placed in an emergency. When new placements are made the registered manager or deputy manager ensure that all the necessary information is sought from placing authorities and that agreed placement plans are in place. This ensures that a bespoke package of care is in place for the young people who use the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The requirement made at the last full inspection in relation to staffing qualifications has been met. The registered manager has focused on building a core staff team that supports young people. Established members of staff are now qualified and experienced. They routinely undertake refresher training in areas such as physical intervention and safeguarding. As a result, young people are now supported by a qualified and knowledgeable staff group.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

New staff are safely recruited; they go through a robust induction period prior to working with the young people. A new member of staff said, ‘I have worked in a lot of different settings, but this is the best. It’s really nice here – very supportive and it is clear just how much the organisation is committed to the young people.’ Observation of this member of staff and other staff members resulted in the conclusion that they were very positive and engaged well with the young person who was present at the time of the inspection. Equally, the young person confirmed that her relationships with the staff and managers are very positive. She said, ‘I love it here, my behaviour has really changed for the better, and I feel listened to and I am safe.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff demonstrate a sound understanding of the procedures that they follow to ensure that young people are protected and kept safe. As this is a mobile service, it is necessary for the young people to travel around, which reduces the potential for them to be at significant risk. Young people who have previously gone missing from home or have placed themselves at risk of child sexual exploitation repeat this behaviour with decreasing frequency when they are placed in the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has made excellent progress, despite some very challenging circumstances. In particular, staff have been effective in supporting the young person, who displayed hostile and abusive behaviour that required high levels of monitoring and frequent physical intervention. In order to turn the situation around, the management team has worked effectively with the placing authority and specialist services, and has supported staff in their work with the young person. As a result, the young person is not such a threat to her own well-being or that of others. Furthermore, there has been a significant reduction in the number and duration of restraints. Restraint records show that discussions that have taken place between the young person and staff members have allowed the young person to reflect on her behaviour. In addition, records show that the registered manager debriefs staff following all incidents of restraint. Reflective practice is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

regularly discussed during key-work sessions with the young person and in staff team meetings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to be supported by a registered manager who is clearly very passionate about supporting young people to achieve excellent outcomes. They work as a team and share examples of good practice through regular team meetings. Young people are consulted on and participate in all new developments. For example, a young person’s reflective journal and an interactive DVD are now firmly embedded in the service. These provide each young person with an account of the time that they have spent in the service and the progress that they have made from their starting point; they also provide young people who are new with information about what to expect from the service and the staff who will be providing them with support.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The independent person thoroughly monitors the quality of care provided. The manager acts on the independent person’s monthly reports to improve and develop the service. The manager and the deputy regularly consult with the young person’s family members and with the professionals who are involved in the young person’s care. The manager regularly monitors the paperwork and the feedback received, in order to develop the service.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person’s contact arrangements are regular and are agreed through liaison with the young person, her social worker and family members. The staff provide transport, often over long distances; they also provide support and supervision during contact visits, when required.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The mobile service continues to operate in a manner that effectively prioritises young people’s safety and well-being. It provides individual programmes of care together with highly stimulating activities and education. The service is led and managed effectively by a registered manager and a deputy manager. They are motivated to support young people to reach a better understanding of concerns surrounding their behaviour and to make positive changes that will promote their safety and well-being.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

No requirements or recommendations are made at the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

 The service is registered to accommodate three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.  The service is privately owned.  The service provides alternative accommodation. This incorporates activity-based intervention work in order to offer an innovative programme for young people who are experiencing periods of difficulty or crisis, as written in the home’s statement of purpose document.  Locations vary, as young people are quite literally ‘mobile’. Young people use a variety of camping and bunkhouse facilities, and stay in caravans, cottages, a narrowboat and a yacht, as outlined in the home’s statement of purpose document.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 27/06/2016 Full Good 01/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 03/08/2015 Full Good 02/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 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 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 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

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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