Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Stockport

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

Young people are making good progress since they commenced living at the home. Both young people attend school and are making steady progress against their educational targets. Staff have good links with the named lead teachers. Regular communication makes sure that there is a good overall understanding of progress and possible factors which may impact on the young person’s learning or home life. This enables both social and educational support to be consistent and supportive to the young person. Staff attend open evenings and award ceremonies in line with good parenting, helping young people understand and value the importance of education.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection, the home has had a period of change and some challenges concerning the relationship dynamics between the young people. This resulted in damage to the property and some complaints from neighbours. The organisation has worked in partnership with the police and local authority designated officer to address these concerns. A meeting arranged to address these concerns was attended by the home, police, the local authority designated officer and a local councillor. Invitations to the meeting were sent to neighbours; however, none attended it. Staff continue to monitor the behaviour of young people and there are clear behaviour management plans in place for each young person. These have recently been reviewed and updated to provide additional strategies to engage and support young people to manage their behaviour. The plans are subject to review to enable the manager to monitor their effectiveness.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been no further concerns or complaints raised with the home or the regulator. The previous damage to the property has been repaired and there is an ongoing maintenance programme. The house feels more homely, with young people fully involved in choosing decor and furnishings. This helps them to feel valued and involved in their home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has not had a registered manager since the end of August 2016. Interim management arrangements were made and a permanent manager has now been appointed who is aware of her responsibility to apply for registration and has commenced this process. Recent impact assessments in relation to the admission of young people to the home demonstrating the matching of young people’s needs were not available for all of the young people admitted since the last inspection. This does not demonstrate how the home reflected on supporting a young person moving into the home and the young person already living at the home. However, the current young people have settled and the staff feel that they are a positive influence on each other. This is also reflected in comments made by other professionals. The manager has reviewed the admission process and criteria, and has a good understanding of assessing future placements to address this shortfall, along with

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

ensuring that the placing authority are fully informed of all out-of-borough placements as required by regulation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home’s placement plans for each young person have been developed in conjunction with the placing authority plans. However, one plan contains limited information. This does not reflect clearly the support provided by the home. That said, professionals involved with young people feel that the staff are supporting the young people very well and that they are making progress. One specialist social worker from the Protect team said, ‘In the short period of time the young person has been here, the home has provided good levels of care and support to enable engagement of the young person. As a result, the risk assessment recently completed demonstrates the risks are being managed well. Although the risks are still there, they are not as significantly high as previously. This, along with effective communication and support, is providing the young person with stability, which previously they have not had, and a sense of belonging.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Both young people attend full-time education and are making progress in relation to their original starting points. Staff actively encourage education. They maintain weekly links with school staff, ensuring that if there are any concerns or issues they can be addressed to minimise the risk of disruption in the young person’s education. Staff attend meetings at school when these are held, and also support young people when they take part in school activities where parents or carers can attend. For example, a member if staff recently attended a music evening which one of the young people was taking part in, which was a positive experience for the young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Recent recruitment for additional staffing has resulted in plans for new staff to join the team. There has been some change of staff, but there is a core staff team who, with support from two agency staff, provide continuity of care to the young people. Staff feel very positive about the home and the support that they receive from the manager. One member of staff said: ‘We are working together as a team and although we have experienced some difficult times, we make sure the young people are happy and making progress. It is good to discuss new ideas and ways of working to further enhance the outcomes for the young people.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home has addressed one of the requirements made at the previous inspection in relation to the premises and partially addressed the other in relation to notifying the local authority of placements. However, the most recent admission has not been clearly notified to the host local authority. Therefore this requirement has been made again. Recommendations have been completed and this demonstrates a commitment to improving the practice of the home. The other shortfalls identified at this inspection relate to children’s records and impact assessments when a new placement is being considered or made.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a private children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to two children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 02/08/2016 Full Good 08/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 24/11/2015 Full Good 03/03/2015 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) 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(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (‘case records’) for each child which include the information and documentation listed in Schedule 3 in relation to each child; are kept up to date. (Regulation 36 (1)(a)(b) Schedule 3 (17)) This is in reference to an up-to-date EHC (Education Health and Care) plan. 15/03/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify, without delay, the local authority for the area in which the children’s home is located of every admission of a child into the home and every discharge of a child from the home and ensure that a notification under this regulation is in writing and states whether the child has an EHC (Education, Health and Care) plan or statement of special educational needs and, if so, details of the local authority with responsibility for the EHC plan for maintaining the statement of special educational needs. (Regulation 41 (1)(3)(e)) 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:  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in their relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement may have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

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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 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

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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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