Children's Home run by Cornerstone Children’s Homes Limited in Stockport

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness . Since the last inspection, the manager attended a formal interview with Ofsted and was successful in becoming the registered manager for the home. She has a deputy manager in place and, together, they have taken effective action to meet all of the previous requirements at the last inspection and have considered further areas for improvement in the home. Clear monitoring systems are now in place and individual records show the progress young people are making. There have also been improvements to the home environment, including the decoration of communal areas. Furthermore, behaviour management plans, medication and complaints procedures have been reviewed, updated and now include all relevant information. The needs of all young people moving in and out of the home are carefully

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

considered in individualised transition plans. One young person has recently left the home to live in a new placement. Staff spent quality time with him before he left. They involved him in the move-on plan and continued to support him for a period of time, despite the distance to the new placement. Since moving on, the young person has maintained contact with the staff, with whom he had built up positive relationships. Young people often move into the home at upsetting times of their lives. They sometimes feel confused, anxious and angry and express these feelings through disruptive behaviours. The staff understand how difficult it can be for young people when they first move in. They encourage and support young people to build up positive relationships and help them to understand acceptable behaviour, group living, and how to manage their feelings. Young people settle quickly. When asked about their new home, one young person said, ‘It’s fandabbydosey. I have staff to

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

talk to and they listen and help.’ Risk assessments have significantly improved and there are clear strategies in place for staff to follow if issues arise. These are discussed in team meetings and any changes are highlighted in the handover process. This ensures that all staff are fully aware of the content. However, on occasions, the author of the changes to assessments has not been included, or the correct date added of when the change was made. While this has not impacted on the welfare of young people, the registered manager recognised that this as an area for further improvement. Furthermore, compatibility assessments inform the young person’s risk assessment. However, on one occasion, managers had not included all known risks, such as self-harm. This does not ensure that all risks identified by the placing authorities are considered in the home’s own assessments. When this was brought to the attention of the registered manager, she took immediate action to rectify it.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Safeguarding young people takes precedence. The registered manager and staff work effectively with partner agencies to protect young people. Regular meetings take place, including reviews of children looked after, and other key meetings when required. Staff have a clear understanding about their roles and responsibilities in protecting young people. When concerns have been highlighted around staff practices, immediate action has been taken to report all concerns to safeguarding professionals, including the local authority designated officers. This ensures that young people are safe and that safeguarding procedures are followed. Managers and staff have established effective working relationships with young people’s families, social workers, schools and health services. Together, they support young people to make progress in all areas of their lives. When issues have arisen in education settings, staff have taken immediate action to address the

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

concerns and explore all support options. This ensures that young people receive the right support in a timely way, which continues to promote young people’s education and learning. Furthermore, when there have been delays in receiving local authority documentation, managers have challenged this to ensure that they have access to all the correct legal information at the beginning of all placements. Staff reported that there have been changes in the team since the last inspection. Staff reported that the changes have been ‘positive’ and felt that the staff team are now ‘much more consistent with young people’ and ‘very supportive of each other’. Furthermore, staff attend regular team meetings and benefit from professional supervision, which takes place regularly. They have also received training in line with their roles, including radicalisation, safeguarding, health and safety and medication. This ensures that all staff have the skills and experience to contribute

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

effectively to supporting all young people living in the home. Behaviour management policies have been reviewed and all sanctions and physical interventions are recorded in detail. Records include a description of the incident and details of the debrief undertaken with both staff and young people. All records are monitored by the registered manager, with a clear evaluation of the effectiveness of any measures used. This open and transparent practice is ensuring that all methods of discipline and control used in the home are consistently monitored, which enhances young people’s safety. Warm, caring relationships exist between the young people and staff. A member of staff stated, ‘We promote a home where all young people can be themselves, grow, develop and reach their potential. It’s great to see the progress they make.’

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Information about this children’s home

The home is privately owned and is registered to accommodate up to three children who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

10/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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Recent inspection history

05/02/2015 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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Recommendations

To improve the quality and standards of care further, the service should take account of the following recommendations:

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Recommendations

 Ensure that children’s risk reduction and risk management plans include clear and comprehensive details of the specific steps the staff will take to manage any assessed risks on a day-to-day basis. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 42, paragraph 9.6)  Ensure that all children’s case records are kept up to date and stored securely. Case records must be signed and dated by the author of each entry. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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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