Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Oldham

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged outstanding 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

The care young people receive is delivered by a skilled and sensitive staff team, who provide a warm and nurturing environment. The staff are resilient and resourceful in developing strong and positive relationships with the young people. As a result, young people feel relaxed and comfortable in their home and are making progress against their own individual targets and goals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Professionals validate the positive relationships that exist between young people and the staff team. One social worker said: ‘This placement is very nurturing and I am reassured that [name] needs are being met. [Name] has really strong bonds and attachments with staff, especially the manager. He has a lot of respect for her. In my view, staff are doing a great job, [name] is happy and he feels supported’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Individual key-work sessions are highly developed and show that young people invest in their relationships with staff and actively share their wishes and feelings. This ensures that young people feel listened to and that their views are taken seriously. Young people are given realistic targets to work towards and these feed into larger goals over time. They are rewarded for achieving their targets and can see the progress they make towards their long term goals.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff value young people’s education and work consistently to promote it. Many young people came to the home with extremely poor educational attendance, which reduces their long-term prospects. The manager ensures that any barriers to education are addressed promptly and effectively. The manager ensures that the right support is in place to help young people to overcome these barriers. All young people have access to the right type of education provision that is specific to their needs. Consequently, some have made excellent progress, achieving much improved attainment levels and attendance. This is testimony to the staff’s ability to help young people to reach their goals and have aspirations for their futures.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s safety is given top priority. Staff are excellent role models and have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of young people’s vulnerabilities. The staff team consistently follow risk management plans to ensure that young people are safeguarded. They take a proactive approach to working with agencies such as youth offending teams and placing social workers. This provides young people with the right level of support that is designed to reduce risk-taking behaviour, such as going missing. They keep young people busy by involving them in recreational activities and ensure that they attend education. As a result, young people have learned to stay away from negative influences and there has been a significant reduction in criminal behaviour. A youth offending worker said: ‘My initial view of this home is very positive. [Name] has a prolific history of going missing. I really didn’t think he would last a week in this home. It’s massive that he

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

hasn’t absconded. I really thought he would vote with his feet, and he hasn’t. This is amazing. This home is right at the top of my list. They are doing a great job’.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be managed effectively through the strong leadership of the registered manager. The manager leads by example. She has successfully created a culture where staff unequivocally place the needs of young people at the heart of their practice. She is tenacious, creative, passionate and committed to helping young people achieve their full potential. Staff speak highly of the manager. One staff member said: ‘The manager is always full of new ideas, and she is very hands on and really supportive.’ Records confirm that the supervision of staff is regular and is focused on the needs of the young people. Access to training is good and includes safeguarding, first aid, reducing risks and behaviour management. This ensures that the staff team has the right set of skills and knowledge to support young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has effective monitoring systems in place to ensure that the young people receive high-quality care. Internal and external monitoring systems confirm that the manager is fully up to date with the progress that young people make. She has an in-depth understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses and makes good use of a development plan, which is being implemented effectively. There are no shortfalls emerging from this inspection. This further demonstrates the manager’s ability to demonstrate good learning from inspection activity to promote the development of the service.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/07/2016 Full Outstanding 22/07/2015 Full Good 03/03/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness 07/11/2014 Full Adequate

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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, 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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