Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited 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 improved effectiveness . Staff are committed to meeting the needs of the young person who lives in this solo placement. They have an extremely detailed understanding of her complex behaviour. Over the period since the last inspection, staff have reviewed their management of the young person’s behaviour, which has resulted in significant improvement in her ability to self-regulate. Staff are extremely skilled in anticipating the young person’s behaviour and make good use of de-escalation techniques. As a result, staff have not restrained the young person for five months. This represents outstanding progress from the young person’s starting point. Staff work in partnership with the team around the young person. They communicate with school on a daily basis and show a genuine interest in how she is progressing. The young person has 100% attendance at school and this

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

academic year has seen improved outcomes. Staff support the young person to engage in many interesting activities both in the home and in the community, such as riding her bike, colouring, gardening and playing with lego. The young person attends a local knitting club and has developed excellent skills in knitting and crocheting, which ensures that she always has something to keep her occupied when she is relaxing at home. The young person enjoys swimming and attending a therapeutic sensory centre. She is also a member of a local Guides group, which has allowed her to develop important social skills, such as making friends, leading a group and being part of a community. The Guide leader said: ‘I just want to reiterate how well behaved your young person was today at the Remembrance parade.’ Staff understand what is important to the young person. They know her brothers and sisters and arrange contact with their carers so that the young person is able

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

to maintain these important relationships. Staff are sensitive when there are changes to her sister’s placement and ensure that the young person is able to continue to see her. This improves the young person’s sense of identity. The registered manager has made good progress in addressing the requirements made at the last inspection. He has ensured that staff record all incidents of physical intervention and that he debriefs staff following the use of restraint, including himself by an independent person. There is good use of child-friendly forms to support the young person in reflecting on her behaviour. This reflective practice has been key in staff reviewing their behaviour management strategies and the young person developing improved self-regulation. Staff use restorative practice effectively, allowing the young person to understand the impact that her behaviour has on others. The registered manager has improved safer recruitment

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

practice and maintains the staff register. However, he has not made progress in ensuring that the rotas always accurately record which temporary staff work in the home to cover shortfalls in the core staff team. The registered manager usually identifies, through monitoring and reviewing, where practice can improve the quality of care provided for the young person. Staff have a positive relationship with the young person’s general practitioner. However, the registered manager has not ensured that the general practitioner provides written confirmation of changes to prescribed medication, which he makes through telephone calls to review the young person’s medication. There is no evidence that this has adversely impacted on the young person’s health. However, this does not represent safe practice. The registered manager and staff act as any concerned parent would in challenging the health authority when there are significant delays

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

in the young person receiving an appropriate paediatric overview and assessment. The young person’s allocated social worker has changed three times in as many months, which has not assisted in progressing the young person’s care plan. The registered manager has escalated his concerns in the placing authority. Since the last inspection, the young person has not been missing. Staff understand what to do if this should happen and are alert to risks associated with internet and social media use. Staff complete frequent key work sessions with the young person about keeping herself safe. There has been an incident of whistle blowing, which the registered manager managed appropriately in partnership with the local designated officer. The home is a friendly and welcoming environment, which has been personalised by the young person to reflect her interests and personality.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care for one child who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. The home forms part of a large social care company.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 05/07/2016 Full Good 25/01/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 20/07/2015 Full Requires improvement 16/03/2015 Interim Declined in 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 must maintain in the home the records in schedule 4 and ensure that the records are kept up to date. (Regulation 37(2)(a)-(b)) 21/04/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that medicine which is prescribed for a child is administered as prescribed to the child for whom it is prescribed. (Regulation 23(2)(b)) 21/04/2017

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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

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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