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 sustained effectiveness . The registered manager and staff effectively support young people to move from or into the home. Two young people have moved to a new home, which is also overseen by the registered manager. They visited before making the decision to move and enjoyed planning and decorating their bedrooms to their individual tastes. The staff team also moved to the new home to maintain established positive relationships. Young people benefit from this continuity of care. The provider completed external repairs and installed a new kitchen before another young person moved to the home. This has improved the physical environment, which offers comfortable and homely accommodation. The young person went on activities with staff and visited the home before admission. He has helped staff to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

decorate his bedroom in his chosen football theme. The inspector observed warm and relaxed relationships between the young person and staff. He said that he thought the home was ‘excellent’. The registered manager attended meetings with professionals and parents to collate comprehensive information to plan the young person’s care effectively. Clear outcomes are planned, which reflect the placing authority’s relevant plans. The home has been assertive and proactive to ensure that family contact is managed and supported positively. This has helped the young person to settle into his new placement successfully. The young person feels safe living in the home. Robust risk assessments are reviewed and updated in response to developing understanding of the young person’s needs. These inform behaviour management strategies to keep the young person safe and to provide strong and consistent boundaries. Staff have the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

understanding and skills to manage any negative behaviour so that physical intervention and consequences have not been required. There has been one occasion when the young person left the home without permission. Staff responded promptly and appropriately to return him home safely, and the manager ensured that a return home interview was undertaken. The home uses this understanding of the young person to reduce risks to his safety and well-being and to help him to manage his emotions. The young person responds well to high levels of positive praise and incentives used in the home’s approach to care. He now attends school on a daily basis and enjoys his chosen activities with staff, such as playing football, dog walking and go karting. The home promotes a healthy lifestyle through physical activity and nutritious meals. Specialist input has been arranged to develop the young person’s understanding of his life history and to support his emotional well-being. Staff are

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

aware of the impact that this might have and are equipped to respond sensitively in promoting and developing his self-esteem. Strong partnership working with other professionals underpins the young person’s care. The allocated nurse for children looked after, visits the home to encourage the young person to engage in a health assessment. His social worker reported that communication is excellent and praised staff for their proactive support during the young person’s transition and subsequently. The home provided transport to school until a taxi was arranged by the placing authority, and staff liaise well with school to address any issues. The young person’s family confirm that they are very happy with the care provided at the home and the regular updates on progress. One family member said that the home is ‘fantastic. They really work well with [the young person] and we can see a difference.’ This promotes holistic care and

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

positive outcomes for the young person. The experienced registered manager has thorough oversight of practice to ensure that it remains consistent and of high quality. Records show that she regularly monitors and evaluates how staff deliver care in the home and that she has adjusted well to the responsibility of leading two homes. There are clear risk assessments for lone working in place, and newer staff do not work alone until they complete their probationary period of employment. Supervision takes place in line with company policy, and team meetings are well attended on a monthly basis to maintain effective communication. There is a clear development plan for the home, which is updated to drive progress and improvement. Internal monthly monitoring now includes consultation with professionals and parents regarding the quality of care. The recommendation to ensure that the local authority consults with a young person and the home about relevant plans was addressed. Enhanced

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

analysis of the home’s quality of care in external monitoring reports is recommended. This will support the registered manager’s ability to make continued improvements in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. It is owned by an established private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 11/10/2016 Full Outstanding 16/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/11/2015 Full Outstanding 12/01/2015 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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 an independent person makes a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in the home’s care and that it is evaluative and informs improvements. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

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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 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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