Children's home run by Cambian Childcare Limited in Stockport

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged as requires improvement 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

Since the last inspection, a new experienced manager has been appointed. Ofsted has received the manager’s application to be registered.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has promoted a positive culture of improvement in the home. The manager is clearly aware of the weaknesses and developmental areas of the home and has been diligent in improving the experiences and progress for young people. Significant improvements have been made in the home, and the manager has made sure that each new young person is settled before considering another young person.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people moving into the home are prepared as much as possible. They visit the home prior to their admission and are able to meet staff and choose their bedroom. This makes sure that young people have some understanding of the home that they will be living in. This helps to reduce some of the young people’s anxieties.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are safe in the home and feel safe. Risk assessments reflect all known risks and preventive strategies to safeguard young people. Young people are provided with a range of support from external agencies to assist in reducing these risks. For example, the home works closely with substance misuse teams and the police. This enables young people to benefit from discussing matters in a safe environment and learn about the impact of some of their behaviour. From the start of young people’s placements, there has been a significant reduction in risk-taking behaviours, such as drug misuse and going missing. This is due to consistent boundaries, positive staff relationships and partnership working. Staff are attentive to the individual vulnerabilities and emotional characteristics of young people. Young people spending time with their families is encouraged and facilitated. This helps young people to maintain their identities.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people’s education improves. The structure of the day is based around school attendance. Managers identify schools that will specifically meet the individual needs of each young person, for example by building up self-esteem and confidence. As a result, young people attend school regularly. One young person’s attendance in education has increased to 96.3%. When at home, young people get on well together and enjoy positive relationships with staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from living in a large home. The spacious property provides young people with sufficient privacy or they can spend time together in the communal rooms. Part of the home has been redecorated, and there have been some new furnishings since the last inspection. However, some furnishing, such as the settee in the sitting area, is showing signs of wear and tear. Furthermore, some parts of the home still have an institutional feel. This includes institutional lighting and doors, bedroom alarms and keypads to some parts of the home. The manager is aware that this is an area for ongoing improvement and that the bedroom alarms installed do not meet the needs of the current young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff have worked hard since the last inspection to make sure that all the requirements are met. Young people now benefit from a small staff team that is fully supported and supervised regularly by the manager. Young people’s files now contain all the relevant information and records that are required to provide young people with a good standard of care. Young people now have a voice in the home and their views are starting to be embedded into everyday life at the home. One young person told the inspector, ‘It is the best home I have lived in.’

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to six young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The accommodation includes two flats for semi-independent living. The provider is a large private limited company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

09/02/2016 Interim Declined in effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

16/02/2015 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) meet(s) 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 may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children. (Regulation 24(1)(a)) 28/04/17

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children’s homes are nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children. They will, in most cases, be homely, domestic environments. Children’s homes must comply with relevant health and safety legislations (alarms, food hygiene etc.); however, in doing so, homes should seek as far as possible to maintain a domestic rather than ‘institutional’ impression. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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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 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

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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