Children's Home run by Radical Services Limited in Westmorland and Furness

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 sustained effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be led and managed effectively by an experienced registered manager who is suitably qualified for the role. He is determined to ensure that the home continues to provide a consistently high level of care and support for any young person accommodated. He promotes a strong child-centred approach to running the home, ensuring that the young person’s views and participation are prioritised.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person who had been living in the home since January 2016 has recently moved on to a secure facility. This was a consequence of a significant incident that occurred in the community prior to the last full inspection. The placing authority and other professionals involved are clear that this move is not a reflection on the quality of care and support provided.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person’s youth offending worker reported just prior to his move, ‘He is now in his fifth placement, within which he has begun to build real meaningful relationships. The staffing ratio is a positive strength for the young person, who thrives under adult supervision.’ He also noted that the young person demonstrated greater maturity and that he had settled well, made positive progress in school, engaged in positive leisure pursuits and developed aspirations for his future.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last full inspection of this home in December 2016, one requirement and two recommendations were made. These have all now been suitably addressed. The home has further strengthened communication arrangements with its independent school provision. Daily reports between home and school proved helpful in addressing issues and determining how best to coordinate the support offered by both settings. Staff were creative and successful in motivating the young person to go back to school, improving both his attendance and interest in his achievements. A member of teaching staff commented, ‘He turned it around after Christmas. His attendance significantly increased and in the last two weeks here he had full attendance.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff revisited the young person’s contact arrangements as part of his ongoing care planning process. New arrangements were negotiated to re-establish visits with his siblings in order to ensure that these important relationships would be maintained. However, these plans could not be realised before his move on from the home.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person clearly values the relationships he made with staff at this home. He has asked to be allowed to return to live at the home at a future date, but does understand that this may not be possible. However, given the home’s commitment to this young person, the manager has sought an agreement with the placing authority to maintain a level of contact to ensure he still feels well cared for and supported. Currently this is occurring on a daily basis by phone, although staff do hope to visit the young person in the coming weeks. This demonstrates the high level of emotional warmth and concern that staff feel and show for young people in their care.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Placing authorities and other professionals are unanimous in their satisfaction with and praise for this home. The young person’s social worker commented, ‘Staff have been fantastic. They have been so proactive and kept him safe and positive. He made good progress, being able to maintain relationships and build trusting relationships with staff. They are very down to earth and they really care. They genuinely want him to do well. They recognised his potential and he wanted to do well for himself. They definitely gave him aspirations. They are really excellent, I can’t fault them.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The staff are currently planning for the next young person they will care for. The registered manager follows a thorough assessment and matching process to ensure that the home is appropriate and that his staff team has the necessary training and experience to meet the young person’s individual needs. Successful partnership arrangements with a range of professionals and agencies enable the home’s manager and staff to draw on their experience and intelligence to commence planning before a young person is placed. Additionally, staff training and development opportunities are well developed and well organised by the provider to ensure staff maintain and develop their knowledge and skills in order to successfully meet a varied range of needs.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is well maintained and furnished to create a warm homely environment. When a young person comes to the home, they are encouraged to personalise their own bedroom and to contribute their ideas for the rest of the home and garden. The young person’s bedroom is currently being redecorated to provide a fresh and clean environment for the next young person who moves in. This helps to make them feel at home and enables them to develop a sense of belonging. A social worker commented, ‘When I visit it is more like a family home. I feel so comfortable and they made me so welcome.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Good arrangements exist to ensure the home’s performance and activities are well scrutinised and appropriately monitored. Ofsted receives regular reports from the home’s independent visitor. These provide good evaluation of the home’s achievements and highlight where developments are occurring or are needed. The manager and staff are highly reflective in their daily practice. This is an extremely effective way of improving their professional practice and promoting the continuous development of the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide for one child. It is one of several homes owned by a private company. It provides care and accommodation for children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD).The home is privately run and is registered for up to one young person who has emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement 21/12/2016 Full Good 18/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/12/2015 Full Good 11/03/2015 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 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

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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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