Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children's home: SC064836 1 SC064836 Registered provider: Meadows Care Ltd

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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 is a privately run children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to two young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 26 to 27 September 2017

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Date of last inspection: 26 January 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Improved effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people have benefited from the unconditional support that they receive from a very patient and resilient group of staff.  Staff work hard to help young people move on from an unhappy, chaotic and Inspection report children's home: SC064836 2 unsettled life to a more stable one.  Young people who have previously been out of school are now attending education provisions regularly and making good progress. Others are in college full-time and have aspirations for their future.  Young people develop the skills and confidence to manage their lives as adults. Staff encourage young people to take small steps towards acquiring new, age- appropriate skills.  Young people’s safety is given a high priority. Staff have a good understanding of young people’s known risks and vulnerabilities and take the right action to manage these and any emerging safeguarding concerns.  Staff provide young people with clear and consistent boundaries. Positive

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Key findings from this inspection

behaviour is reinforced through high levels of praise.  This is an effectively managed home. The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced and provides the home with visible leadership which promotes good quality of care and positive experiences for 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 manager does not routinely evaluate and analyse the effectiveness of physical intervention. This does not help to ensure that practice remains effective.  Not all notifications to Ofsted contain pertinent information, and they vary in quality. For example, some lack detail with regards to the action taken and the subsequent outcome.  Welfare check records are ambiguous and lack clarity. This means that there is little evidence to demonstrate that staff monitor young people’s health and well- being when known or emerging concerns arise.  Young people live in a large house that provides them with a lot of space. Generally, the home is welcoming, clean and tidy. However, parts of the home require attention. This includes addressing the minor damp problem in the bathroom. Inspection report children's home: SC064836 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

26/01/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/06/2016 Full Good 22/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/11/2015 Full Requires improvement Inspection report children's home: SC064836 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, the 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

In order to meet the protection of children standard, the registered person must ensure:

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Requirement Due date

(2)(a) that staff— (i) assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and if necessary make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child. (Regulation (2)(a)(i)) 10/11/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that within 24 hours of the use of a measure of control, discipline or restraint in relation to a child in the home, a record is made which includes the effectiveness and consequence of the use of the measure. (Regulation 35(3)(a)(vii)) 10/11/2017

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Requirement Due date

* These requirements are subject to a compliance notice.

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified, within 24 hours, to the appropriate people. Notification must include details of the action taken by the home’s staff in response to the event. In particular, staff must include pertinent information and details of the action taken and the subsequent outcome. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13)  For children’s homes to be nurturing and supportive environments that meet the needs of their children, they will, in most cases, be homely and domestic environments. This specifically relates to addressing minor damp issues in the bathroom. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 15, paragraph 3.9) Inspection report children's home: SC064836 5

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Two young people have moved into the home since the last inspection. Both young people moved from another home within the organisation. This transition was meticulously planned and supported by the fact that both young people were able to move with their core staff team. This enabled them to settle in quickly and alleviated any anxiety that they may have had about the move.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people living in this home have experienced trauma, personal crises, rejection and chaotic histories. However, as they settle they begin to develop good attachments with staff, which demonstrates that they trust the adults who care for them. One social worker said: ‘X [young person’s name] has some entrenched difficulties, but since living in this home I can see glimmers of him being able to trust adults. He certainly has positive relationships with the staff team and enjoys spending time with them. In my view, the staff team understands him well and values his individuality and this has helped him tremendously.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff spoken with during the inspection demonstrated a thorough understanding of the young people’s individual characters and personality traits. They conveyed a genuine care and desire to help young people achieve their full potential. Over time, this approach helps young people to develop a sense of belonging and improves placement stability. Additionally, this enables young people to become more confident in overcoming the challenges that they face in their lives.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value young people’s education, and their attendance and attainment are improving. Young people who have previously experienced poor attendance and exclusions are gradually gaining more confidence in their abilities and are making good progress. One young person’s attendance has increased from 20% to over 80%. This represents significant progress and the change in attitude to learning provides a good foundation on which to build and improve their future prospects.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Each young person’s day-to-day health and well-being needs are well met. Young people are supported to tackle their early childhood experiences through nurturing care and access to an in-house therapist. Young people have good relationships with their therapists and attend weekly sessions. Additionally, staff receive regular consultation with the therapy team. This has been particularly important in developing child-centred care practice that helps support young people’s emotional health and well-being difficulties.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support contact between young people and their families when it is safe to do so and in line with their care plan. Staff will facilitate contact and provide transport if required. This ensures that important relationships are maintained.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people take part in a range of activities at the home and out in the community. In Inspection report children's home: SC064836 6 the main, young people choose to engage in these activities with staff and other young people resident in the home. Currently, activities involve playing golf, going to the cinema, building bikes, visiting places of interest and playing games. These activities play a significant role in improving self-esteem and confidence.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are being well prepared for adulthood. They are supported to carry out a range of tasks within the home, dependent on their age and ability. For example, one young person is currently budgeting for his own food shop, cooking, doing laundry and keeping his room tidy. This has enabled him to gain confidence in acquiring the skills needed for adult life. This young person said: ‘I am able to cook and I know how to take care of myself. I’ve even learned how to iron, although I’m not so keen on doing it!’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

There is a rolling programme for redecoration and maintenance of the home. However, some improvements are still ongoing. For example, the bathroom looks run-down and on the day of the inspection smelt of damp. This shortfall is not currently impacting on the health and safety of young people but is detracting from the overall quality of the environment.

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

The young people receive consistent care, clear boundaries and good routines. Staff are consistent and convey a strong message to young people of the importance of making the right choices to keep themselves safe. Staff invest time with young people, helping them to understand how to avoid risky situations, whether these are in the community, at the home or online. A good example of this includes project work on exploitation, gang culture, crime and substance misuse. This has undoubtedly helped reduce risk- taking behaviour.

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

The staff team implements strong safe care practices that are underpinned by good safeguarding policies and procedures. All staff are suitably trained and demonstrate a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities in keeping young people safe. Staff make it clear that bullying will not be tolerated and in the main positive relationships exist between the young people. However, when issues arise, staff work with the young people involved to help them come to a mutual understanding and acceptance of each other and move forward positively. This restorative approach has been effective in addressing issues between residents quickly.

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

Risk assessments are individualised and reflect the diverse personalities of young people. The staff are clear about the young people’s level of risk and vulnerabilities and can verbalise the actions that they take in supporting young people during these times. That said, the guidance in relation to welfare checks is not consistently adhered to. For example, on at least two occasions staff have not clearly recorded the measures taken to ensure the young person’s safety when it is suspected that they have returned to the home under the influence of substance. There is no record of how this young person was monitored and checked. This is not good practice and has the potential to impact young people’s safety.

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

Staff take a positive approach to behaviour management. They encourage positive Inspection report children's home: SC064836 7 behaviour and the techniques used by staff take into account the young person’s age, understanding and the seriousness of the situation at any given point. During the times when young people become distressed and exhibit behaviour that places them and others at risk, staff are skilled and trained in using physical intervention, although this is kept to a minimum and is very much a last report. Records are maintained and the manager ensures that a full debrief takes place with the young person and staff member involved. However, aspects of these records do not comply with the children’s home regulations, specifically, the registered manager’s evaluation of the effectiveness of the measure used. To date this has not had a detrimental impact on the safety of young people. This does not promote comprehensive learning from such situations.

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

Young people do go missing from the home on occasions. However, there has been a significant reduction. Records demonstrate that staff are proactive in their efforts to locate young people when they do go missing. This includes staff looking for young people in favourite locations and places they are more likely to be. Staff also actively discourage these behaviours by encouraging young people to engage in activities with them and with the other young people who live at the home. The reduction in missing- from-home episodes shows that young people are investing more at the home, feel safe and are making more informed choices about their personal safety.

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

Recruitment practice is sufficiently robust. The registered manager is fully involved in the recruitment of staff, which enables him to assess the applicant’s suitability for the role. Detailed recruitment records are maintained at the home and confirm that staff have been appropriately checked and vetted prior to starting work. These measures provide suitable protection to vulnerable young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There has been a change of manager since the last inspection. At the time of this inspection, the manager had been in post for just over five months. The change in leadership was well planned. This provided an opportunity for a thorough handover that included the new manager spending time with the previous manager, young people and staff. This has enabled him to start to get to know the staff team and the young people. Since the manager’s appointment, he has quickly developed an in-depth understanding of the home’s strengths and weaknesses. He demonstrates a commitment to securing ongoing developments to improve the care provided to young people. He makes good use of his development plan, which is being effectively implemented. This means that the home can continue to grow and develop for the benefit of young people. Staff benefit from effective support and regular professional supervision. They have

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

access to appropriate training to develop their knowledge, skills and professional practice. Staff enjoy working at the home. One staff member said: ‘We are like a family here and we do what good parents would with the boys. We want the best for them and we are consistent. It’s like a second home to me, I really love my job.’ This clearly demonstrates that the staff team shares and implements the home’s ethos, approach and philosophy in caring for young people. As a result, young people benefit from staff who are committed to helping them succeed in life. Inspection report children's home: SC064836 8 Records confirm that staff receive regular supervision, appraisal and team meetings so that their practice is confident and competent. The staff spoken with during the inspection clearly enjoy their role and embrace the overall culture and ethos. All staff are provided with mandatory training, including safeguarding, behaviour management and

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

restraint, and first aid. The manager maintains good oversight of training to ensure that it is regularly refreshed. Additionally, staff are provided with reasonably good opportunities to enhance their knowledge through needs-led training and through consultation with the in-house therapy department. This has been extremely useful in building the staff team’s understanding of one young person’s background and presenting behaviours.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager deals with significant events appropriately, ensuring that these are investigated and reported to relevant agencies, such as the placing authority, parents and the designated officer. That said, not all notifications that are sent to Ofsted contain pertinent information. Some offer a good level of information, while others lack clarity. This is not good practice, as records made in this way hinder the regulator’s ability to ensure that the provider has taken all necessary steps to keep young people safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Internal and external monitoring of the home takes place regularly. Reports review the quality of care provided and clearly identify areas of strength and areas for improvement. Any shortfalls or areas for development identified through these monitoring systems are highlighted and addressed quickly. As such, the manager ensures that the staff continue to deliver a high standard of good quality care to meet young people’s individual needs and that any areas for improvement are dealt with sufficiently and promptly.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The statement of purpose accurately describes the service being provided. The manager and staff have a clear understanding of its aims and objectives and work to ensure that they sustain good practice. Staffing numbers are sufficient and any shortfalls in the rota are covered by the existing staff team and a small number of reserve staff. This ensures consistency for young people.

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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 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. Inspection report children's home: SC064836 9 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

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Information about this inspection

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: SC064836 10

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Niel Shelmerdine

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Inspector

Ceri Evans, social care inspector Inspection report children's home: SC064836 11 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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