Children's home run by Pathfinders (childcare) Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children‟s home: 1241632 1 Registered provider: Pathfinders (childcare) Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two children who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties and/or learning disabilities. It is operated by a private company.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 13 to 14 December 2017

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 28 February 2017

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

 Young people make good progress living here. They speak positively about the home and the staff.  Young people say that they feel safe and happy.  Young people have very positive and trusting relationships with staff. They have Inspection report children‟s home: 1241632 2 known many of the staff for a long time and are fond of them.  Young people engage well in their education and their attendance is good. Young people speak positively about their learning and have aspirations for their futures.  Staff provide a caring and nurturing environment for young people.  Young people receive support to access specialist services that meet their identified needs. Staff are proactive in seeking advice and guidance from other professionals.  Staff support young people to re-establish positive relationships with their families.  A consistent, nurturing and motivated staff team supports young people to learn

p.1

Key findings from this inspection

to manage their own risk-taking behaviours and make safer choices.  Staff promote the achievements that young people make. They know the young people well and support and encourage them to develop individual interests and hobbies.  Staff work well with other agencies and communication is excellent. Agencies are positive about the home.

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

The children‟s home‟s areas for development:

p.2

Key findings from this inspection

 Risk assessments and plans are not always clear.  Staff have not received training in the areas of practice that are relevant to the young people‟s needs and risks.  The internal quality assurance system is not robust enough.  Not all case records are retained for young people that are discharged from the home.  Recording is not always accurate and clear.  Young people do not routinely receive return home interviews after they have been missing from home.

p.2

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/02/2017 Full Outstanding Inspection report children‟s home: 1241632 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure that staff –

p.3

Requirement Due date

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; help each child to understand how to keep safe; have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm. (Regulation 12 (1) and (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all risks are identified and understood, and that this informs effective risk management. 12/02/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children‟s home to ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child; ensure that the home‟s workforce provides continuity of care to each child; use monitoring and review systems to make continuous improvements in the quality of care provided in the home. (Regulation 13 (1) and (2)(c)(e)(h))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that staff have training to meet the needs of individual young people; and that the management and monitoring of the quality of practice are robust so that young people‟s assessments and plans are accurate. 12/02/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain records (“case records”) for each child in a secure place after the child has ceased to be accommodated in the home. (Regulation 36 (d)) 12/02/2018 Inspection report children‟s home: 1241632 4

p.3

Recommendations

 When a child returns to the home after being missing from care or away from the home without permission, the responsible authority must provide an opportunity for the child to have an independent return to home interview. Homes should take account of the information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect a child. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards, page 45, paragraph 9.30)  Ensure that staff are familiar with the home‟s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. Information about the child must always be recorded in a way that will be helpful to the child. („Guide to the children‟s homes regulations including the quality standards‟, page 62, paragraph 14.4) Specifically, that records contain accurate, sufficient detail that is not ambiguous.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress living here. They speak positively about the home and the staff. Young people say that staff listen to them and support them. They go on to say that staff help them work through any issues and encourage them to make good choices. Professionals speak highly of the home. They report that they are very happy with the care and support offered to the young people, and can see that they make good progress living here. One young person has recently moved back to the home. This young person had moved back to their family home. Unfortunately, this arrangement broke down. The social worker reports how well this young person has settled back into placement. Furthermore, they say that the young person now presents as a mature young person who is engaged with their care and how this care will help them progress in a positive way.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is welcoming. The atmosphere is calm and nurturing. Young people respond well to this. They say that they feel safe and cared for. The home is reflective of the young people living here. There are a number of pictures and artwork on display, which represent the young people, their families and their interests. Young people respect their home and take care of it well.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have very positive and trusting relationships with staff. They have known many of the staff for a long time and are fond of them. Staff know young people well. Relationships between the young people and staff are a key strength of the home. This enables young people to feel safe and happy. Young people, in the main, are honest about their wishes and feelings, and share their concerns and worries. Staff respond in a supportive and proactive way, and are sensitive and reassuring. This enables young people to explore their concerns and find ways to improve things.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive consistent individual care that reflects their needs and risks. However, staff do not identify all known risks. Consequently, the unidentified risks do Inspection report children‟s home: 1241632 5 not form part of the assessments and plans. This means that the measures to keep young people safe are not always robust enough. This is particularly in relation to outside influences, for example young people‟s personal relationships. When staff know the risks, young people receive good help, support and guidance. Furthermore, strategies in place to keep them safe are clear.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people receive support to access specialist services that meet their identified needs. Staff are proactive in seeking advice and guidance from other professionals. This means that young people have access to the holistic care that they need. For example, one young person is completing life story work to support her in understanding her past.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people engage well in their education and their attendance is good. Staff offer young people continuous support in their educational studies. This means that young people receive the support they need to enjoy their education and meet their full educational potential. Staff take a proactive approach to secure education and/or training that meets young people‟s needs. Young people speak positively about their learning and have aspirations for their futures.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are encouraged and supported to develop independent skills. They are empowered to take a lead in their lives and learn how choices can have an impact on their future. However, on occasion, staff do not explore key areas of concern with young people and thus young people do not always receive the information they need to make informed decisions.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are involved in the running of the home. There are regular and meaningful young people‟s meetings. The meetings reflect the young people‟s wishes and feelings. Staff act on young people‟s requests and meet these when appropriate to do so. The registered manager reviews the records of these discussions and ensures that staff and young people follow up any agreed actions. Young people take part in a range of activities. Young people develop hobbies that they progress well in, for example dance and drama. They receive support in trying new activities and in developing their talents. This empowers young people to grow in self-esteem and confidence.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people have regular contact with their families and friends. Staff support and encourage the relationships between young people and their families. For example, one young person had not seen four of their family members for a long time, as the relationships had broken down. The registered manager and staff were proactive in supporting the young person to re-establish the relationships. As a result, the relationships are developing well and contact is increasing. This is having a positive impact on the young person. When contact arrangements are not working well for young people, staff are able to review these with the social worker and revise them accordingly. They do this in a supportive and reassuring way, which helps reduce young people‟s anxieties and worries.

p.5

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote the achievements that young people make. Young people have a journal, which captures their experiences and achievements. Relevant professionals receive regular updates on young people‟s progress. Inspection report children‟s home: 1241632 6

p.5

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

Young people say that they feel safe. Staff provide a caring and nurturing environment for young people. Young people respond well to this; young people are settled and happy. They spend quality time with staff and they have the time to explore any worries they may have. Furthermore, managers respond to complaints in a timely way and young people are happy with the outcome. However, the recording of complaints is not robust enough. Information is not clear and consequently records are open to interpretation.

p.6

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

Young people benefit from regular key-work sessions, and the recording of them is good. However, the sessions do not always focus on the areas that the young people need support with. This means that young people do not always receive help to understand their needs and their risk-taking behaviours. Consequently, young people continue to make decisions about their lifestyles that could have a negative impact on their lives.

p.6

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

If incidents happen, staff respond quickly. They use de-escalation techniques to manage the situation and in most instances, this works well. However, on occasion, the management and recording of incidents are not good enough. For example, two young people who live at the home were involved in a physical altercation with each other. The recording of this incident was not clear and thorough enough. Key information was missing. Consequently, the management of this incident, and the impact it had on the young people, was not clear.

p.6

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

Young people‟s placement plans are of a good standard and easy to follow. Information is clear and the documents are easy to navigate. They are young person focused and the reader has a good insight into the young person‟s journey. However, staff do not routinely keep them up to date. Consequently, staff are following out-of-date care plans.

p.6

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

Risk assessments and plans are good. They offer clear information about risk factors and strategies to use. However, some key risk factors are missing. This means that effective risk management is not consistently good.

p.6

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

Staff work proactively with young people, their families and the relevant agencies to reduce risk. For example, one young person was persistently missing from home. Staff worked in partnership with the relevant people to understand and reduce the risk factors associated with the missing from home episodes. While the episodes did not reduce, the strategies that were in place were clear and staff adhered to these well. The management of missing from home incidents is good. Staff follow agreed strategies and records are clear. However, young people do not routinely receive a return home interview. Therefore, staff are unable to take account of the information provided by such interviews when assessing risks and putting arrangements in place to protect a child. This area of practice was highlighted as an area for improvement in the last inspection. Inspection report children‟s home: 1241632 7 Staff and young people are clear about the standards of behaviour that are acceptable.

p.6

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

Behaviour management plans and strategies are individual to the young person‟s needs and they are very clear. Young people have respect for one another, the staff and their home. Young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own behaviour and respect the boundaries that are in place. When young people display negative behaviour, staff respond to this in a calm and reassuring way. They support the young people to make the right choices and take self-control in defusing the situation.

p.7

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

The recruitment and selection of staff are sufficiently robust. Staff are vigilant and take appropriate steps to verify each visitor‟s identity to protect young people. Health and safety checks are conducted and this ensures a safe living environment. The community risk assessment is clear. Some areas of concern are not within the assessment, for example the nearby park and pond. These back onto the garden of the home and could be a hazard, especially in the dark.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Leadership and management are good. The registered manager is suitably qualified and experienced, and she leads by example. She has an inclusive, nurturing and caring approach. Her expectations about the standard of practice required are clear and staff respond well to this. When staff have not met these expectations, for example the poor management of young people‟s medication, the registered manager acts quickly to resolve the issue and practice improves. The relationships between the registered manager and staff are positive. Staff speak positively about working here and say that they enjoy their job.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager manages two homes in the organisation. She divides her time between the two homes. She recognises that this, at times, can be a challenge. She is committed to both of the homes and is developing ways in which she can manage them both equally and effectively.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Two senior members of staff support the manager to run the home in line with the aims and ethos of the statement of purpose. Staff are suitably qualified or working towards this. There have been a number of changes to the team over recent months. Staff are forming their working relationships. New staff are learning about their roles and responsibilities. The team is working well together; however, practice across the team is not always consistent.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have a good understanding of the needs of young people. They encourage young people and are committed to ensuring that young people have good outcomes. Staff are passionate about the role they have in the young people‟s lives.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff establish good relationships with young people, their families and professionals. They endeavour to deliver the best possible care for young people. Staff receive regular supervision and ongoing support. Staff benefit from having regular and meaningful team meetings. Staff have access to training and the registered manager supports them to develop their practice. However, the training available is not fully reflective of the young Inspection report children‟s home: 1241632 8 people‟s needs and risks. Consequently, there are gaps in the team‟s knowledge base and therefore not all needs and risks are understood and worked through.

p.7

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The external monitoring of the home is in place and the registered manager reviews the reports, and acts on any recommendations in a timely way. Internal monitoring is not robust enough. While the registered manager does have oversight of the practice within the home, and this is evident in some of the records, inaccuracies in records and poor recording have been missed. Furthermore, young people‟s records are not always retained once a young person is discharged from the home.

p.8

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Liaison with other agencies is very good. Professionals speak very positively about staff communication and partnership working. They receive regular updates on the progress young people are making. One social worker said, „I would like to say the communication between myself and staff is excellent.‟

p.8

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.

p.8

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: 1241632 9

p.8

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathfinders (childcare) Ltd

p.9

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Middle Red Lumb Farm, Red Lumb, Rochdale OL12 7TX

p.9

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Elizabeth Cooper

p.9

Inspector

Lisa Gregoire-Parker, social care inspector Inspection report children‟s home: 1241632 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.

p.9

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, 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 http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.10

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.10

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.10