Children's home run by Aurora Care Young People’s Services in Ribble Valley

Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 1 SC484357 Registered provider: Aurora Care Young People’s Services

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is run by a private organisation. It offers care and accommodation for up to four young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 25 to 26 May 2017 Overall experiences and progress of children and young people, taking into account good

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Information about this children’s home

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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Information about this children’s home

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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Information about this children’s home

Overall judgement at last inspection: Improved effectiveness

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Enforcement action since last inspection

None Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 2

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Key findings from this inspection

 All young people attend full-time education and make good academic progress.  Contact with family and friends is very well supported.  Recreational activities are consistently encouraged. Young people enjoy trying out new activities.  Placement planning is good. Young people have clear personal goals and aspirations for their future.  Healthcare planning is good. Young people learn about good health and are active in leading healthier lives.  Relationships between young people, staff and family members are good. This level of partnership working provides young people with a sense of security and stability.  Risk-taking behaviours are reduced. Since the last full inspection there has been a significant reduction in young people going missing from the home.  Behaviour management strategies are improved. Young people work together with staff to form behaviour agreements and this has proved to be successful.

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Key findings from this inspection

Since the last inspection, there have been no occasions where physical intervention has been necessary.  Young people are cared for by a committed and enthusiastic staff team qualified at NVQ level 3.  Staff receive regular and appropriate training in order to work effectively with young people.  The home works well in accordance with the statement of purpose. This document is regularly updated and forwarded to Ofsted.

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The children’s home’s areas for development

 Records of complaints and concerns, including the investigation process, must be completed after the event without delay.  Details of young people’s religious beliefs, culture and ethnicity must be recorded on the young person’s file in accordance with regulation.  Missing from home records should be fully completed and must consistently include reference to the return home interview.  Where there is a delay in young people receiving their formal pathway plan from the local authority, the manager should take appropriate steps to escalate these concerns. Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 31/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 03/02/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet 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 ensure that a record is made of any complaint, the action taken in response and the outcome of any investigation. (Regulation 39(3)) 23/06/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records for each child which include the information and documents listed in Schedule 3, specifically relating to religion and ethnicity. (Regulation 36(1)) 23/06/2017

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Recommendations

 Records must be kept detailing all individual incidents when children go missing from the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 45, paragraph 9.31)  The registered person should work with the placing authority to ensure that each child’s transition is planned and help each child to prepare for leaving, both practically and emotionally. Specifically, the manager should escalate concerns where there are delays in the local authority providing sufficient pathway plans. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 57, paragraph 11.9)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are at the heart of the developments in this home. They are central in making decisions about the home and planning for their future. One young person said, ‘I really like the new manager, he gets everything done. I feel like I am on track now.’ Relationships between young people and staff are securely formed. Observations of discussions, banter and lots of laughter confirm the mutual respect and regard shared in the home. All young people now attend full-time school and college placements. Two young people were undertaking GCSE examinations at the time of the inspection. One of them said, Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 5 ‘We have worked so hard. The manager has helped us by getting a private tutor to prepare us for exams. The staff have all helped us.’ Educational feedback is positive. A teacher said, ‘Staff are very supportive of the young people and work really well with the

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

school. Young people are in a good educational routine.’ Contact with family and friends is prioritised in the home. Clear contact plans are in place and visits are appropriately supported by staff. A parent said, ‘Staff are really good at keeping me informed and including me. My child is very happy and settled in the home.’ Young people benefit from regular keywork sessions in accordance with their individual care plan. Sessions highlight young people’s engagement and commitment to planning for their future. For example, the home’s independence training plan is designed at a level young people can understand and achieve. As a result, young people gain a range of important skills essential for their independent lives. However, not all young people have a formal pathway plan and the manager has not escalated this as a concern. As a result, there is a level of uncertainty for those young people preparing to move on. A

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

recommendation is made to address this matter. On the whole, staff have a good understanding of young people, their background and their needs. Evidence of this is seen in how young people are encouraged to express themselves, for example in style and room decor. However, details of religious beliefs, cultural background and ethnicity are not consistently recorded for new admissions in order to inform the placement planning process. This information is essential in assisting young people to celebrate who they are and maintain their sense of belonging and self- worth. A requirement is made to address this matter. Young people are encouraged to take part in both individual and group activities. Some young people play football, go running and attend the gym. Other young people prefer to go to the cinema or spend time with friends. Records of young people’s meetings, questionnaires and activity timetables all evidence that young people are provided with

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

consistent opportunities to try out new activities. Healthcare planning is good. The home works well with external agencies to ensure that young people receive the right level of help and support. Equally, staff are committed to ensuring that young people are health aware. Regular keywork and group sessions promote good health. For example, an excellent display of ‘sugar’ captures the level of sugar in day-to-day products. Young people said, ‘This really shocked me. I used to love fizzy drinks but I don’t have them now. It’s not right that it has so much sugar in it.’ Young people understand how to make a complaint. Forms are available around the home and external complaint contact numbers are also displayed. Young people also benefit from an independent visitor who regularly visits the home. Young people say, ‘If you are not happy, this manager sorts things out.’ However, although there has only been one complaint since the last full inspection, this was not managed in accordance

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

with the home’s procedures. For example, both the investigation and complaint records are incomplete. While the young person confirms the matter has been appropriately addressed, records fail to evidence this. A requirement is made to address this matter. Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 6

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Young people’s safety is effectively prioritised in the home. Individual risk assessments capture specific risk-taking behaviours and the process for managing these. Likewise, risk assessments show the progress young people make, specifically in the reduction of risk behaviours. This means that risk is measured and the appropriate individual strategies are in place to address any concerns. Behaviour management is effective. Young people work together with staff to develop individual behaviour management plans. This enables young people to take responsibility for their behaviours and recognise where they may need help to make effective change. A young person said, ‘If we break or damage something, we have to pay for it. We use the money to purchase something nice for the house.’ Likewise, young people receive consistent praise and reward for good behaviour and attainment at school. Staff say, ‘We have a really positive group. They all respond well to praise and they enjoy receiving

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

rewards.’ Since the last full inspection there has been one episode of young people being missing from the home. This is a significant improvement. A young person said, ‘I really regret doing it. I’ve moved on from this. I have grown up and realise it’s just daft.’ However, records of this episode are incomplete. The manager acknowledged that some records have not been appropriately updated. A recommendation is made to address this matter. Staff receive annual physical intervention training and use it well in practice. This training encompasses a range of redirection and distraction techniques which have proved valuable in managing some disruptive behaviours. Consequently, there has been no use of physical intervention in the home since the last inspection. The home operates an effective anti-bullying policy. Staff work closely with young people to reinforce this message in the day-to-day running of the home. Anti-bullying messages

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

including posters are placed in private areas and include details of what to do if they experience any form of bullying. There has been one incident since the last inspection. A young person said, ‘I feel like the staff sorted it out and it’s not a problem now. I know I can go to staff and they will help me.’ Consequently, young people feel safe in the home. The home has developed consistent routines, boundaries and expectations. Young people make good progress. They feel safe, cared for and believe in themselves. This is evident in the way that young people present themselves. They are confident, polite, and happy, and have unique personalities and sense of humours. They are keen to share their achievements, especially their rewards and their aims for the future.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has been in post since January 2017. He is qualified at NVQ level 5 and has significant experience in residential childcare. The manager has undertaken an interview with Ofsted in order to become the registered manager of the home. This is his first role as a manager in a residential children’s home. Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 7 Young people live in a home that is committed to providing good care and continued aspiration for young people. The home meets the aims and objectives as detailed in the statement of purpose. Young people, social workers and families are clear about the service and support the home provides. Internal and external monitoring is consistently undertaken. There are marked improvements in the consultation process for external monitoring. For example, the external visitor is now making some progress in consulting with parents and social workers in order to inform the report. The home employs a strong and committed staff

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

team qualified at NVQ level three. The training of staff at this level ensures that they are suitably qualified in the care and management of young people. Young people’s records are securely stored in the home and young people are regularly invited to review and comment on them. Staff are provided with a suitable training package. Staff attend regular training seminars and this ensures that matters such as child protection, sexual exploitation and physical intervention are routinely updated. Likewise, staff undertake a range of on-line training courses through the Social Care Hub. Staff say, ‘The training is really valuable. If we want specific training the company is really good at providing this.’ As a result, staff feel appropriately skilled in their work with young people. Staff feel supported in the home. Staff say, ‘We have regular supervision and the manager is very supportive. We have developed a really positive atmosphere in the

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

home and it is a really nice place to be.’ The manager ensures that all staff receive the appropriate level of supervision and makes himself available to staff in order to provide guidance and support. Managers and staff routinely notify Ofsted, placing authorities, parents and community police of any concerns or event involving a child in accordance with regulation 40. Appropriate action is taken to reduce risks including, where necessary, additional staffing. The needs of young people are prioritised in the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 8

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children and young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care provided. Wherever possible, they talked to children and 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.

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Information about this inspection

Using the ‘Social care common inspection framework’, this inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, 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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aurora Care Young People’s Services

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Pendle Suite, Hawkshaw Business Park, Clayton-le- Dale, Blackburn Lancashire BB2 7JA

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Inspector

Maria McGranaghan, social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 10 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, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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