Children's home run by Next Stage 4Life Limited in Bolton

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

There is a suitably qualified and experienced registered manager in charge of the home. She has managed the home since its registration. An experienced deputy manager works in the home to support her. Together, they provide enthusiastic and consistent leadership, as well as having a comprehensive understanding of the backgrounds and needs of the young people living here.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff team has remained stable since the last inspection, allowing young people to establish relationships with them and for staff to gain a better understanding of the young people and their individual needs. Staff also benefit from the advice and guidance provided by the organisation’s therapist, who is available for staff consultation, as well as being available to undertake individual work with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

It has been a difficult three months for the home, as staff have had to deal with a number of challenging situations, including allegations. Effective liaison and information sharing between managers and partner agencies mean that appropriate actions have been taken. Lessons have also been learned and new procedures put in place as a result, for example additional individual support for young people, and additional staff on sleep-in shifts in the home. Staff demonstrate a real commitment to the young people in their care and act as good advocates for them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved on from the home since the last inspection. This was following a breakdown in plans to rehabilitate him to his family. This affected the young person’s emotional state and behaviour badly and staff were unable to manage him safely, alongside meeting the needs of the other residents. However, he did make a planned move to another home in the organisation.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff continue to promote young people’s educational attendance. One young person, who was not in formal education at the time of the last inspection, is now attending full time. However, another resident is no longer attending, following a number of incidents in the school setting. Staff are working proactively with his placing authority to identify an alternative provision for him, while at the same time keeping his interest by engaging him in educational outings.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The last full inspection of the home in December 2016 resulted in the making of one requirement. The registered manager has taken action to address this. Staff recruitment records now demonstrate the completion of appropriate vetting checks, ensuring the suitability of staff working in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a small increase in physical interventions since the last inspection, because of the situations that young people have found themselves in. Clear records demonstrate the need for these, in order to safeguard the young person or those around them. Debriefs are undertaken with all those involved and the registered manager reviews and monitors these with a view to amending practice in the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Personalised risk assessments help inform staff about the specific areas of risk for each young person. These are updated following any incident of concern. However, the omission of details when one young person’s risk assessment has received a further update does not ensure the ongoing vigilance of staff to this area of concern. Similarly, it was not clear whether all staff members have been made aware of changes to these risk assessments in a timely manner. This is of particular significance for staff working on an individual basis with young people.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that they complete key worker sessions with young people following any concerning incidents and continually update young people with information about how to keep themselves safe. This ensures that young people have the information they need to make better choices, if they were to find themselves in a similar situation again.

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is one of a number of homes operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or learning disabilities.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 13/12/2016 Full Good

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  Ensure that staff continually and actively assess the risks to each child and the arrangements in place to protect them; specifically, that risk assessments include detail of recent incidents to alert staff to an increase in behaviours of concern and that all staff are made aware of these changes in a timely fashion. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, para. 9.5)

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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 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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