Children's Home run by ROC Northwest Limited in Lancashire

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 improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people at this home continue to make very good progress across a range of areas. A notable area of progress and development is education, in which young people have successfully integrated into mainstream and special education provision. Progression is noted to be exceptional for some, with many achieving well not only from their point of placement but against national age-related expectations. Some young people do not have arrangements for education in place when they arrive at the home, and the home advocates strongly on their behalf to ensure that appropriate education provision is identified as soon as possible.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are supported in increasing levels of independence, and some are managing this exceptionally well. Others find it more difficult to manage extended freedom and the home addresses this in a safe, sensitive and proactive way. Young people’s meetings and key-worker sessions evidence that young people are very well educated about risks linked to independence, and the high-quality one-to-one work that takes place evidences that young people are able to trust staff and speak about issues affecting them.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Some young people who find it difficult to socialise and engage make exceptional progress in social integration and communication. The home shows great tenacity in working with such young people, celebrating each minor step, however small that may be, yet not losing sight of the bigger picture of progression and development.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Transitions into and out of the home are managed with great consideration. The home is highly involved in planning for young people who move on, and has gone beyond expected levels to ensure that young people have positive moves, for example by purchasing appropriate furniture and decorating a young person’s room at his new placement. Admissions are carefully matched, and managers work with placing authorities to facilitate a planned move into the home. The new admission to the home is significantly younger than the other residents, and this has positively impacted upon the home’s dynamics. Young people who are new to the placement settle quickly and show very good progress in the early stages of their placement. One young person has been supported to challenge her placing authority about the service that she is receiving in respect of post-18 planning and transition. The home has supported and advocated for her to ensure that more suitable and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home manages risks to young people very well. Young people are generally settled and there are few significant safeguarding incidents. Any incidents that arise are dealt with sensitively and appropriately, and young people have a great deal of support. Self-harm is a particular area of concern for some young people, and safety measures are implemented which help to reduce the risks. External agencies are involved when the home feels that risk is escalating, for example the crisis mental health team.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home works closely with a variety of agencies involved in young people’s lives. It supports young people with their contact arrangements, including providing supervision for contact visits. This has been noted to enhance the quality of contact for one young person. There is a strong emphasis on multi-agency working, and external agencies report positive working relationships and good communication on the part of the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Management of the home continues to be very strong, with managers showing commitment to ensuring that young people have a positive experience of the placement, feel safe and consulted, and make progress. Managers know the home’s strengths and continue to look for ways to improve the service on offer and the experience for young people. Internal monitoring in the home is of a very high standard, with a tracker system in place to ensure that the actions identified at young people’s looked after child reviews and health assessments are completed (or, when the home is not responsible for completion, are monitored). The home has recently changed its external monitoring, and reports that the feedback that it receives is useful in identifying areas for development and driving improvement.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staffing team is settled and stable, which provides young people with a high level of consistency. This enables them to develop trusting relationships. The atmosphere within the home is calm and positive, and laughter, fun and nurturing care are all highly evident.

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Information about this children’s home

This private home is registered to accommodate up to five young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties, physical or learning disabilities, mental disorders and/or sensory impairment.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 18/10/2016 Full Good 21/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 05/01/2016 Full Good 16/03/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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 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 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

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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