Children's home in Rochdale

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 . The home was last inspected in October 2016. It was judged to be good in terms of young people’s overall experiences and progress and in leadership and management. It was found to require improvement in how well children and young people are helped and protected. Two requirements and two recommendations were made to promote necessary improvement. At the point of this interim inspection, the registered manager has effectively addressed all the requirements and one of the recommendations. This demonstrates that she learns from inspection activity and is aware of her responsibility to ensure that regulations are complied with. Currently the home is empty and there has been young person living in it since 17 February 2017. However, there is a core staff team attached to the home, should another young person be accommodated.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person that recently lived at the home was supported by staff to leave in a planned, controlled and sensitive way. The young person has now moved on to alternative care provision. There is clear evidence that staff got to know the young person very well and were able to develop positive, trusting relationships with her. In the young person’s end-of-placement feedback, she summarised: ‘You made me laugh. You made me smile. All you staff are amazing and deserve the best. You have helped me so much and for that I am for ever grateful.’ Records demonstrate that the staff team provided clear, consistent boundaries and routine. Staff invested their time with the young person, taking an active interest in her experiences, listening to her views and supporting her with situations that caused anxiety. Staff had a good insight into the young person’s specific emotional needs and were effective at helping the young person to develop safer ways of

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

coping with and understanding emotions. This was achieved through structured project work in relation to associated risk-taking behaviours, such as going missing and self-harm. These sessions enabled the young person to reflect and become more aware of where their anger is coming from. This encouraged the young person to approach situations differently, which resulted in a reduction in the frequency and intensity of such behaviour. The home benefits from having a manager who is passionate about her commitment to helping young people to achieve their full potential. She has been in post since November 2016 and was registered with Ofsted in January 2017. She manages another home within the same company, which is in close proximity. She divides her time appropriately and maintains a regular presence and good oversight of the homes. Training and development arrangements remain effective. All mandatory training is

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

up to date. This includes core training, such as safeguarding and first aid, and more specialist courses, such as child sexual exploitation training, self-harm and attachment. Training is ongoing and regular opportunities are in place to refresh old skills and develop new. This ensures that care practice remains current and well informed. The manager has a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. Monthly visits by an external visitor are undertaken to ensure independent scrutiny of the quality of care provided. The visitor consults with young people, staff and partners’ agencies to obtain their views. Identified shortfalls are routinely addressed by the manager to ensure that the home is operating appropriately. One recommendation has not been addressed. There is still a need to replace damaged internal doors. Furthermore, the house is looking tired and, in some areas, requires redecoration. The manager acknowledged this shortfall and has

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

secured agreement from senior managers to restore the house to the appropriate standard.

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of a number of children’s homes operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for one young person who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The organisation also has a therapy department and a school, which young people can access if appropriate.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/10/2016 Full Good 03/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 04/11/2015 Full Good 19/02/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation(s):  For the children’s home to be a homely environment, the registered person should ensure that high standards of décor are maintained throughout the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Recommendations

This is with specific reference to replacing damaged internal doors and to re- decorate throughout.

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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, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children 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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