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 last 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

Since the last inspection, both young people, who are sisters, have made exceptional progress as they move towards their adult lives. Staff have a detailed understanding of the young people, who have lived in the home for several years. Staff understand how to engage effectively with them to promote their self- confidence in managing independent living skills. The registered manager identifies a specific member of staff to support the young people as they prepare to transition to a new service which suits their complex needs. Both young people are now able to use public transport, budget their money, buy and cook a variety of food and meet up with friends in the local town. This represents significant progress from the young people’s starting point last year when they rarely left the home without staff.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff are working in partnership with the placing authority to ensure that the young people move on in a planned way as detailed in their pathway plan. The registered manager and the head of therapy for the service meet regularly with the placing authority social workers from the child and adult services to ensure that they identify the most appropriate placement for the young people. This partnership working is also evident with the therapy staff working collaboratively with the child and adolescent mental health services, as well as with the staff team, to ensure that the young people benefit from consistent therapeutic care. As a result, young people’s emotional resilience improves.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people feel safe and are safe living in the home. Staff have a good understanding of the risks that young people face, and work with them to help them understand those risks and become safer. For example, staff complete direct work with young people around sexual exploitation, in addition to the work completed by the specialist nurse. There have been no incidents of missing. However, staff are aware of how to respond should an incident occur. Staff are highly skilled in managing the young people’s behaviour and physical intervention has only been necessary on one occasion in the last nine months.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Since the last inspection there has been a change in management of the home. The registered manager has been in post for six months. She has the necessary experience and skills to fulfil the role, and is enrolled on the level five diploma in leadership and management in residential childcare. The registered manager is developing her leadership of the home. She has taken positive steps in addressing the shortfalls identified at the last inspection regarding maintaining full information about who has worked in the home. The registered manager also ensures that up- to-date young people looked after documentation is provided by the placing authority. She completes regular monitoring of young people’s progress and is proactive in maintaining their positive outcomes.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from living in a homely environment that reflects their individual interests. Both young people attend college, and staff support them in making choices for the courses which they will begin in September. Staff work closely with college staff to address any concerns that young people experience at college so that they continue with their excellent attendance levels. Young people enjoy taking part in activities within the local community such as horse riding, swimming, singing and belly dancing. This improves young people’s self-esteem as well as being fun. Staff encourage young people’s creative interests within the home too, which ensures that young people are well prepared for occupying their time when they move onto semi-independent living. Staff promote young people’s contact with their family regardless of the distances involved. Young people are, therefore, able to develop their sense of identity.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 22/06/2016 Full Good 04/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/08/2015 Full Requires improvement 17/02/2015 Interim Improved 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 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 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 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

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

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