Children's home run by Active Ark Limited in Cumberland

Inspection report children‟s home: SC465634 1 SC465634 Registered provider: Active Ark Limited

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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 one of a number of homes operated by a private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children or young people who 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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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

Overall judgement at last inspection: sustained effectiveness

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Key findings from this inspection

 Young people feel safe and well cared for by the staff team.  Young people enjoy positive and trusting relationships with staff.  Staff are nurturing in their approach. They are committed to making a positive Inspection report children‟s home: SC465634 2 difference to young people‟s lives.  Staff are proactive, and facilitate regular opportunities for young people to see and stay in touch with family and friends.  Staff work effectively with a wide range of professionals. This ensures that young people‟s needs are properly understood and dealt with.  Parents and professionals speak highly of the service, particularly the strength of the staff in managing young people with challenging and complex needs.

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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

 Significant incidents are not always notified to Ofsted with sufficient information or in a timely manner, as required by regulation.  The registered manager has not yet provided Ofsted with a six-monthly quality of care review report as required by regulation.  New staff members do not always receive practice-related supervision with sufficient regularity or frequency, and this is essential in supporting their professional development.  The home does not yet have an effective system in place to provide a comprehensive account of complaints and how they have been dealt with.  The home has not provided Ofsted with a recent copy of its statement of purpose. This is required when it is revised and updated.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

21/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 23/11/2016 Full Good 30/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/01/2016 Full Good Inspection report children‟s home: SC465634 3

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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 keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16(a)(b)) 04/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33(4)(b)) This relates specifically to ensuring that all new staff receive regular and more frequent supervision. 04/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that records of complaints, which may be kept in electronic form, are kept in an accessible manner. (Regulation 38(l)) This relates to ensuring that all information, including electronic correspondence, is managed in a comprehensive and accessible format. 04/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. The notification made under this regulation must include details of the matter; the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which have been notified; and any actions taken by the registered person as a result of the matter. (Regulation 40(4)(b) and (5)(a)(i-iii)) This relates specifically to ensuring that Ofsted is provided with comprehensive information about such serious incidents in a timely manner. 04/12/2017

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children (“a quality of care review”) at least once every 6 months. After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review 04/12/2017 Inspection report children‟s home: SC465634 4 (“the quality of care review report”). The registered person must supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (1),(3) and (4)(a))

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people living at this home experience a nurturing and homely environment. Staff are committed to making a positive difference to young people‟s lives. They engage well with most young people, quickly establishing good rapport and developing trusting relationships that enable young people to feel safe and well supported.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff show considerable resilience and skill in supporting young people. For one young person with particularly complex and challenging needs, staff made early progress following her admission to the home. They successfully engaged her in a full programme of positive and constructive activities, which was valuable, and encouraged growth in her self-esteem and confidence. Identifying at an early stage that the home was not going to meet her longer-term needs, staff supported her move to an alternative placement effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is furnished and maintained to a high standard. It is clear to see that much effort has been taken to provide a warm and homely environment for young people. The young person currently living at this home settled very quickly, establishing positive relationships with staff. She commented, „I like it here, it‟s good. It feels like my house. I feel that staff support me.‟

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are actively involved in their care planning to make sure that their views and opinions are well represented. Planning is comprehensive and detailed to make sure that young people and staff have clear expectations of the support to be provided. Young people value the time that they spend with their key workers. Documented discussions with key workers confirm that young people are given good opportunities to express their feelings, and to discuss and seek advice. Key workers also helpfully highlight young people‟s progress and celebrate their achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff prioritise effectively young people‟s health and emotional well-being. They encourage young people to attend routine health appointments and enable their access to more specialist healthcare support, when required. Young people are encouraged to eat healthily and avoid activities such as smoking and the misuse of substances that are likely to cause long-term health problems. Staff advise young people of the dangers and health concerns, and offer small incentives to gain their cooperation. The young person currently at the home was pleased to tell the inspector that she had already massively reduced her smoking since coming to the home, and was hoping to stop so that she Inspection report children‟s home: SC465634 5 could have a special day trip out with her boyfriend.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have good access to a range of activities and local interests. This provides them with good opportunities to socialise and become involved with the wider community. For the young person currently living at the home, this has included volunteering to help at a local animal refuge. As well as the young person enjoying volunteering, this is also a valuable learning environment.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff value and promote the importance of education and learning. There is good communication and positive working relationships with local schools and colleges. This partnership approach ensures that young people receive good support to help them learn and achieve. Staff are currently transporting the young person to a mainstream school in a neighbouring town to maintain her previous excellent attendance, and to ensure continuity of support for her GCSE exams.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Social workers and other professionals speak highly of the support provided by the registered manager and his staff team, and of the good communication they have with the home. One social worker commented, „The quality of care and support provided by the staff was to a very high standard and we will not hesitate in placing another young person with them again.‟

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

Young people say that they feel safe and believe that staff genuinely care about them. Staff thoroughly understand young people‟s needs and particular vulnerabilities, and are guided by a comprehensive set of individual risk assessments, as well as detailed behaviour management planning. This means that staff can successfully identify risks, and anticipate and manage young people‟s risk-taking behaviours, by using agreed strategies that promote their safety and well-being.

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

The knowledge and experience of staff in dealing with child protection and safeguarding matters is kept up to date with their participation in regular training opportunities. They successfully contribute to developing their knowledge and skills. The registered manager has recently completed an accredited safeguarding course for trainers. Its aim is to focus on detection and support for young people at risk of child sexual exploitation. This enriches the support that he is able to provide to his staff team. Staff are acutely aware of the importance of dangers such as online grooming and peer abuse. They know how to monitor online activity and educate young people about the safe use of the internet and social media sites.

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

Staff are well prepared for those young people who may go missing from the home. Young people‟s risk assessments and the home‟s locality risk assessment successfully identify the likelihood of going missing, as well as the opportunities young people may choose to take to go missing. Staff clearly understand the documented strategies and local working protocols to deter young people from running away. Despite the close proximity of the city‟s railway and bus stations, staff have been successful in ensuring that young people do not leave the area. On occasions when young people have tried to Inspection report children‟s home: SC465634 6 leave the home, staff have been able to follow them, keep them in sight and encourage their return to the home. Staff only seek police cooperation as and when necessary to promote young people‟s safety. The young person currently living at the home commented, „I have no reason to run away from here. I am happy.‟

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

Recruitment and selection of staff are supported by safer recruitment practice. Staff are appropriately checked and vetted, and only start working in the home when they are deemed suitable to do so. Staff make sure that all visitors have a genuine reason for visiting the home and request suitable credentials from those who are not familiar to them. These measures help young people feel confident that they are being kept safe from unknown adults who may do them harm.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is experienced, skilled and highly thought of by his staff team. He leads by example and has a „hands-on‟ approach, working alongside his staff to provide a high standard of care and support to young people. Staff say that they feel well supported with his approach, having almost daily opportunities to talk and reflect on their practice with the manager. However, formal supervision, especially for new staff who have less experience in their role, was found in some cases to be sporadic and infrequent. This does not reflect good practice in supporting staff in their role.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

For new staff coming into the home, a comprehensive induction programme is provided to familiarise them with their role. The company also offers a good range of training and development opportunities to keep all staff up to date in their professional practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is fully committed to multi-disciplinary working, and he has excellent relationships with a number of other professionals and agencies. He is a keen advocate for young people. He demonstrates a good ability to challenge other professionals when it seems appropriate to do so to meet the young person‟s needs or wishes.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is proactive in dealing with any issues or concerns brought to his attention. Complaints are dealt with appropriately, and opportunities to discuss and resolve issues are offered. Although information is available in various forms, the home is yet to implement a clear recording system for third-party complaints, to ensure that these can be consistently and effectively monitored.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager and staff make sure that family members and relevant professionals are appropriately involved and are kept well informed of the plans to support young people. Communication is identified as a key strength by many professionals. A social worker commented, „They kept us regularly updated regarding any incidents, concerns, issues and they dealt with them appropriately.‟ Another professional said, „They will call to have an initial discussion prior to a young person coming to the home. They are very easy to deal with. I am very happy with communication all round.‟ Inspection report children‟s home: SC465634 7 The registered manager has been actively involved in developing and improving the home‟s electronic record system. The new system aims to streamline and deliver information that will assist the home‟s development and planning, as well as providing a comprehensive account of young people‟s day-to-day activities, plans and progress.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Young people‟s records are stored securely and are only accessible to staff and others who are entitled to have access to them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Despite regularly reviewing young people‟s progress and developments in the home, and reporting this to placing authorities, the registered manager has not yet completed a six- monthly review report for Ofsted as required. However, this has not deterred the registered manager from updating and progressing the home‟s development planning.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home‟s external visitor has maintained regular visits to monitor and check on the quality of care provided, and has reported on each occasion. However, although these reports have been available to staff in the home, they have not been received by Ofsted in a timely manner. It was identified during this inspection that the statement of purpose has been recently updated, but again Ofsted has not received a copy of this. These shortfalls in providing Ofsted with timely information reduce transparency between the home and the regulator. However, these shortfalls have not adversely impacted on the quality of care received by 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.

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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: SC465634 8

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Armstrong Watson, Birbeck House, Duke Street, Penrith CA11 7NA

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Inspector

Gillian Walters, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: SC465634 9 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

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Inspector

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Inspector

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