Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 1 SC361811 Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This is one of a number of children’s homes operated by a private company. The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

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outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

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outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

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outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: improved effectiveness

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outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 2

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Key findings from this inspection

This children’s home is outstanding because:

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Key findings from this inspection

 Since the last inspection, the young people, who are sisters, have continued to make exceptional progress as they move towards their adult lives.  The sisters live in a nurturing and homely environment. They have enjoyed placement stability over a number of years and see their placement as their home.  The staff team ensures that the sisters are well supported in their individual interests and staff talk proudly of their individual achievements. The manager and staff team are committed to ensuring that the sisters experience as many different opportunities as possible. This supports them to broaden their horizons and build their self-confidence.  There is a strong ethos of multi-agency working and the home draws on the resources of a wide range of different agencies in order to ensure that all-round support is provided to a high level for young people.  The sisters are expertly supported by a staff team. The team offers consistency

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Key findings from this inspection

and routines, and this supports the sisters to manage their behaviour and to develop a strong sense of well-being and security.  Behaviour is managed exceptionally well by the manager and staff team. This is because the staff team members are very well trained and have excellent relationships with both girls.  Staff understand the sisters well and can recognise how they communicate their anxieties through their behaviour. The staff team takes appropriate action to de-escalate situations quickly and effectively.  The manager is a strong leader who is supported by a skilled and committed staff team. Staff feel very supported and are confident in carrying out their roles to a high standard.  The staff team members benefit from regular supervisions, team meetings and participate fully in development opportunities. This ensures that they are well equipped to meet the individual needs of the young people.

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Key findings from this inspection

The children’s home’s areas for development:

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Key findings from this inspection

 The shortfall identified at the inspection relates to general wear and tear issues around the home. This has not had an impact on the welfare and safety of the young people. Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/06/2016 Full Good 04/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 19/08/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 4

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Recommendations

 Ensure that the provider provides a homely environment. In particular, ensure that the home is well maintained and that aspects of wear and tear in the home are addressed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.9)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

As a result of their settled and consistent placements, the young people, who are sisters, have continued to make exceptional progress from their individual starting points. They are thriving in the home and both are working towards their individual goals. Staff are enthusiastic, skilled and knowledgeable. They have high aspirations for both girls and have genuine aspirations for them. The ethos of the home is to provide a warm and welcoming environment that supports and promotes positive outcomes. This is something that the whole team embraces. The staff team provides child-focused care and support that enables young people to achieve positive outcomes. This is confirmed unequivocally by a number of professionals, and comments include: ‘I have observed really positive interactions between staff and the sisters. Both girls are happy and it is clear that staff know them very well. This has undoubtedly helped

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

them [the young people] make progress and develop their individuality.’ ‘The staff team [members] demonstrate a person-centred approach to care. They are all very professional in their interactions. It is refreshing to meet staff team [members] who appear genuinely happy and enjoy their roles.’ ‘This is an outstanding service. There is a clear passion throughout the organisation. Everyone wants the best and is passionate about driving this forward.’ The staff team has shown great skill and tenacity in promoting and sustaining young people’s progression, with examples of highly creative and innovative approaches to meeting their individual needs, such as making effective use of meditation and mindfulness research to help reduce young people’s anxiety. This creative response has helped to reduce young people’s anxiety levels and provides a clear message that staff are responsive and attentive and that they care for the young people’s well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The manager and staff team place a high value on education and both young people have well-established daily routines,which include education. Consequently, the young people enjoy excellent attendance at college and have made sustained improvement in their educational attainment. Staff acknowledge and celebrate every academic success, including giving young people certificates and rewards. As a result, young people Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 5 develop a positive attitude towards their education. The sisters benefit from family contact, and this is consistent with their care plans. The home has established excellent communication with families and placing social workers to ensure that young people develop and sustain those relationships that are most important to them. This has had a positive impact on family dynamics and enabled young people to enjoy relationships and maintain a sense of belonging and identity.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Both girls enjoy a variety of activities and experiences in the home and community, for example taking part in charity events and being a part of community groups such as dance and signing clubs. The manager and staff team are committed to ensuring that the sisters experience as many different opportunities as possible. Consequently, this has helped to broaden their horizons and they have become more confident in themselves. The sisters feel a strong sense of belonging in the home. This is a place where they feel accepted, nurtured and treated as individuals. Frequent dialogue between young people and staff by formal and informal means allows the young people to shape the culture and care that they receive in the home. No complaints have been made. However, it is clear that young people know how to complain and feel confident that matters would be dealt with should any issues arise. The sisters all-round independence skills have increased and small steps represent big

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

improvements in terms of their emotional literacy, self-determination and independence. The focus is placed on helping young people to progress through promoting a variety of experiences that enhance their social, emotional and physical development , for example learning to travel independently, managing a small budget and preparing meals. There is clear evidence that the progress made by the sisters is far beyond expectation and they are flourishing because of the care and support that they have received. The manager and staff work effectively with young people and a range of agencies to ensure that the transition into adult services is as seamless as it can be. This is one of the most significant moves for the sisters and there is clear evidence that the process has been managed well by all involved. The manager strives for perfection, she has high standards and has worked meticulously with all agencies to ensure the best possible

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

outcome for both young people. This was confirmed by one professional who said: ‘This service has been exceptionally responsive and supportive and they [manager and staff team] have all presented in a professional way. A team approach has been evident and most importantly what has come across is how much staff care about the young people. They are all clearly very fond of them.’ Staff and young people work hard to ensure that the house feels like a home. Photographs of shared experiences are proudly displayed. The environment is welcoming and pleasantly decorated. However, there are some maintenance issues around the home, particularly in the bathroom. This has been caused by general wear and tear. The manager accepts that this is an area which needs some renovating and updating.

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

Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 6 The home makes outstanding provision for safeguarding young people’s welfare. Staff are highly committed and have an inherent understanding of the young people’s specific and distinct needs. Care planning is meticulous and is highly personalised. Young people’s risks and vulnerabilities are continuously assessed and are fully recorded in their risk management plans. Information in these plans is routinely shared with the staff during handovers, supervisions and team meetings to ensure that they are fully equipped and able to promote young people’s safety. This, alongside the close individual care and supervision that is provided ensures that young people’s safety is promoted. Every effort is made to ensure that the young people have optimum life experiences and that they are supported effectively to lead full and fulfilling lives. Their complex needs do

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

not inhibit their opportunities. Staff spoken with during the inspection demonstrate a thorough understanding of the young people’s tolerance levels and have a very good understating of the times and factors that contribute to them becoming upset or anxious. Staff have worked closely with in-house therapists, schools and social workers to develop consistent and well-thought-out behaviour management strategies. These strategies are fully implemented in practice and have proved effective in reducing young people’s stress, anxieties and frustrations. The ethos of the home is one of encouraging positive behaviour. The staff maintain a consistent approach and are highly skilled in using de-escalation and communication techniques to lessen the young people’s anxieties. Staff focus on rewards and incentives and sanctions are not the preferred method of managing behaviour. Records verify that restraint has not been used since the last inspection. This further demonstrates that

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

both young people are happy and settled. The young people do not place themselves at risk by going missing from home, nor are they known to be subject to the risk of sexual exploitation. That said, the risk is clearly understood by staff. They have all received training on such issues and are highly alert to the signs and triggers. Furthermore, pro-active project work has been undertaken with young people, and staff make good use of a range of resources and websites to aid learning. This has helped raise awareness and further demonstrates that staff give young people’s safety and protection optimum priority. Staff are appropriately trained in safeguarding and understand their roles and responsibilities in keeping young people safe. Established systems are followed effectively in response to any arising child protection matters. The manager ensures that the relevant partner agencies are informed and that appropriate action is taken.

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

Robust partnerships are a key feature in this home. This multi-professional approach enables professionals to take decisive and immediate action to protect young people should any issues of concern arise. This ensures that young people receive the support they need to remain safe and protected from harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager is an inspirational leader who acts as a positive role model for new and existing staff members. She is extremely passionate about supporting young Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 7 people and is committed to helping them achieve their full potential. The manager fosters a clear determination, energy and motivation to improve the home, and this is an ethos the team embrace. This successful approach promotes the effective development of a child-centred service. Staff spoken with during the inspection report high levels of satisfaction with the supportive ethos of the home’s managers. All staff receive regular planned and structured supervision. Records highlight that supervision sessions have been expanded and now include opportunity for reflection and discussions around theory-led practice. Staff say that they are very happy working at the home, and enjoy working with the

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

young people. Staff feel very well supported, and that their skills and experience are valued within the service. The manager is proactive in progressing and developing the staff team. She routinely makes good use of research to inform and strengthen practice. Examples include discussions and quizzes in team meetings on trauma-informed care, attachment and resilience. All mandatory training is up to date and regularly refreshed. New staff are well inducted and given good support from the registered manager and experienced staff. The staff team is provided with excellent opportunities to develop their understanding and knowledge and apply this learning in their day-to-day care of young people. There is a range of very effective monitoring measures in place. These measures not only take into account the operation of the home but provide a detailed and evaluative measure of the progress that the young people have made. This enables the manager to

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

track the effectiveness of interventions and analyse the difference that the home is making to the lives of young people. Regulation 44 visits are regularly carried out and the manager has meaningful dialogue with the independent visitor. When matters are raised as areas for development, these are invariably addressed on the day of the visit. The manager completes an annual development plan that clearly identifies goals, targets and aspirations for the young people accessing the service. The plan is forward thinking and realistic, yet challenging, and serves as a positive indicator of the manager’s commitment to driving the service forward. To conclude, this is a highly effective service with a strong capacity to improve and develop for the benefit of young people. The manager is driven and committed, child- centred and forward thinking. The manager and staff have a clear passion to ensure that young people have every opportunity to achieve their full potential and have genuine

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

aspirations for young people’s future lives.

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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 differences made to the lives of children and young people. They watched how professional staff work with children Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 8 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 whom 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: SC361811 9

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Meadows Care Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Meadows Care Limited, Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale OL12 9EN

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Niel Shelmerdine

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Inspector(s)

Ceri Evans: social care regulatory inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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Inspector(s)

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