Children's home run by Pathfinders (childcare) Limited in Rochdale

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 improved effectiveness .

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from high levels of consistent care which enables them to make exceptional progress. The registered manager and staff use their detailed understanding of young people to develop positive relationships with them. This enables young people to make significant progress and their outcomes improve.

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are committed to young people and they are proactive in engaging with them, even when individuals are reluctant. They welcome new young people to the home and ensure that their cultural and religious needs are well met. Staff understand the impact on young people of being placed a long way from their homes. They work in partnership with families and placing authorities, so that young people are able to enjoy time with their families and friends where that is safe and in their best interests. This promotes young people’s sense of identity. Parents recognise the positive impact of staff’s care; as one parent said: ‘Everything is brilliant and he is very happy.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is robust in her challenges to virtual school heads and placing authorities to ensure that young people benefit from attending school full time as soon as possible. Both young people’s attendance at school is 100% and they are both making excellent progress. One young person is taking his GCSEs this summer and staff support him to revise and attend additional tutoring so that he can meet his potential. The registered manager and staff prepare young people for their transition to college and their next placement. They take them to visit college open days and attend interviews for their chosen course. They begin planning with the team around the young person in a timely manner so that the young person really benefits from well-planned care. One young person, who is moving on following four years in placement, said to the inspector: ‘The plan is good. There are three places for me to see in the area I want to live, near my

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

family. The first placement are coming to visit me here this month.’

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people become increasingly safe because staff really understand the risks associated with their behaviour. There have been no incidents of going missing since the last inspection. This represents significant progress for one young person who was frequently missing and putting himself at considerable risk prior to moving to this placement. Staff work with the police to develop trigger plans so that if young people do go missing they will be protected effectively. Staff are aware of issues of child sexual exploitation and radicalisation. They remain alert to any changes in young people’s behaviour and friendships. Staff support young people’s use of the internet and social media following risk assessments. They monitor them carefully, where necessary, to ensure their own and others’ safety. A placing authority social worker said: ‘Staff have supported him well and built up a very positive relationship. They have built up his independence while balancing his

p.2

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

safety. Staff are well aware of the risks he faces and have worked with him so he has developed a much better understanding of these risks.’

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are highly skilled in behaviour management. They spend time in getting to know young people and in understanding them so that they are able to identify effective rewards. They work together as a team in providing consistent care so that young people are able to develop improved strategies to manage their aggressive behaviour. A young person asked staff to explain to the inspector how he was making ‘good choices’ and was proud that he has not assaulted anyone or needed the police to be called to the home for many months. This represents outstanding progress from his starting point.

p.3

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager is experienced and passionate about providing high-quality care for young people. She monitors and reviews patterns and trends so that young people receive care that promotes their progress. When young people are new to the home, the registered manager spends considerable time and effort in ensuring that she obtains all the relevant information to consider the impact on the existing young person. However, this thorough impact risk assessment has not been recorded, which does not evidence how carefully she has evaluated the risks to each young person of living together. However, she is skilled in making this evaluation and the young people are well matched and making exceptional progress.

p.3

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for up to two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The home forms part of an independent social care company.

p.4

Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/07/2016 Full Outstanding 23/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 01/12/2015 Full Outstanding 27/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

p.4

Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendation:  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. In particular, that the registered manager records this impact risk assessment. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, April 2015, page 56, paragraph 11.4)

p.5

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’.

p.6

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.

p.6

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 .

p.6

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,

p.7

Information about this inspection

The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Information about this inspection

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

p.7