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 Peoples Services Interim 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

Enforcement action since last inspection: None

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has declined in effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager and staff work well with social workers, education staff and health professionals. This means that young people continue to make good progress and experience positive opportunities at this home. Staff are proactive and support young people to access education, training and employment opportunities. Staff are sensitive to the needs of young people and constantly try to encourage them to re-engage with education when they refuse to attend school. Professionals and parents confirm that the manager and staff are supportive of young people in these instances and that they reiterate the importance of good school attendance, creatively using rewards and consequences appropriately to try and encourage attendance. Although this has been a successful approach for some young people, it has not improved school attendance for others, despite the best efforts Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 2

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

of the manager and staff. Young people are positive about the opportunities that staff offer them. Young people report that they enjoy their days out to theme parks, and are happy that staff enable them to attend social clubs. These activities prevent young people from becoming socially isolated and help them to pursue their hobbies and interests with other like- minded young people. The manager and staff recognise young people’s progress and achievements, regularly sharing these with the young people’s placing local authorities so that they can be nominated for awards to recognise their continued hard work and efforts. Young people are rightly proud of the things that they have achieved, and are keen to share and celebrate these. One young person confirmed this and said, ‘I like it here. I do not misbehave as much as I used to do. I do not stay out or go missing anymore and I now like school.’ Effective and cohesive working relationships between the manager, staff, young people

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

and social workers enable young people to develop their life skills in a safe and managed way. Young people are supported well to move on from the main house into the semi- independent living space attached to the home. This resource gives young people the opportunity to gain some understanding and experience of what it is like to live alone while being provided with a safety net of accessible support. The manager works well with young people and social workers before and during these times to ensure that these experiences are safe, supported and managed well for young people. The manager is quick to identify any difficulties or challenges that arise, and addresses them immediately. This care and support enables young people to develop their independent living skills in a safe and reassuring way and prepares and supports them well for their move into adulthood. Young people confirm that they maintain positive relationships with each other and the

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff. They feel at ease and confident to raise any issues or concerns. The manager is keen to seek young people’s thoughts and input in the running of the home and makes sure that young people are involved in their own care planning. The manager makes himself available and listens to young people’s comments or concerns carefully. He acts on any complaints that are made and investigates and addresses these to a suitable conclusion, and one which everyone is happy with. Following a requirement made at the last inspection, care practice has improved in this particular area. Records now include the complaint, the action taken in response to the complaint, and the outcome of any investigation. Staff are proactive when young people go missing from the home. They try to discourage young people from leaving the home and follow and search for them when they do go missing. Each young person has a missing from home risk assessment and

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

staff consistently follow this and the missing from home protocol to ensure that any young people who go missing are found as soon as possible. Following a recommendation made at the last inspection, a record is now kept detailing all of these individual incidents. Although staff do undertake direct work with young people on the risks associated with this behaviour, as well as their own return home interviews, the manager was unable to provide any records to clarify that young people have been given the chance to have independent return interviews. This is a missed opportunity to understand why young people go missing from the home, which would inform further Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 3 risk management planning. The manager has suitably addressed the two requirements and two recommendations made at the last inspection. As well as taking the appropriate action to address the one requirement and one recommendation in relation to the recording of complaints and the

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

records of missing from care incidents, the manager now makes sure that young people’s case records include a copy of their pathway plan. As such, the manager and staff support young people appropriately with their transitions into adulthood in line with the expectations of the placing local authority. Furthermore, staff now support young people to consider and pursue their chosen religious pathways and cultural beliefs because the manager makes sure that this information is included in young people’s care planning records. This support enables young people to understand and celebrate who they are and maintain their sense of belonging and self-worth. The home continues to be managed by a dedicated, experienced and qualified manager who is committed to securing positive outcomes for young people. Staff confirm that the manager supports them well and that he organises supervision sessions and team meetings that enable them to prioritise and meet the needs of the young people. He also

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

gives his staff the opportunity to gain the required childcare qualification, as well as the ability to enhance their knowledge and skills through regular training opportunities. However, three members of staff have not had physical intervention refresher training, so do not have the most up-to-date theory and knowledge base with which to support young people at times of crisis. The manager makes sure that an independent visitor visits the home as required by regulation. However, the visitor does not systematically record in their reports whether they think young people are effectively safeguarded at the home. This is a missed opportunity to drive improvement in the home and in the quality of care provided. Young people’s health, well-being and safety are compromised because staff do not systematically follow the risk assessments that are in place. Although staff confirm that they have a good understanding of the young people’s needs and how they should be

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

supported in times of crisis, records viewed demonstrate that not all the staff routinely implement the practice detailed in young people’s risk management plans. For example, staff failed to monitor one young person’s health and well-being throughout a particular night. This was after that young person returned to the home under the influence of alcohol and reported that they had been involved in a physical altercation which resulted in them receiving a blow to the head. The member of staff on duty did not seek immediate medical advice despite this and the young person complaining of a headache. Furthermore, there was no documentary evidence to confirm if the staff had supported the young person to consider making a formal complaint to the police following this alleged assault. Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/05/2017 Full Good 23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 15/12/2016 Full Requires improvement 31/03/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness

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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

10:The health and well-being standard In order to meet the health and well-being standard the registered provider must ensure that— (a) the health and well-being needs of children are met; (b) children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being. This is with particular regard to ensure that staff follow young people’s identified risk assessments, and seek appropriate medical advice and support for young people without delay. 02/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

12: The protection of children standard In order to meet the protection of children standard the registered provider must ensure that— (2)(a)(vi) staff take effective action wherever there is a serious concern about a child’s welfare. This is with particular regard to ensure that staff follow young people’s identified risk assessments, and support, monitor and supervise young people appropriately and regularly when young people are under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. 02/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

The independent person must produce a report about the visit (‘the independent person’s report’) which sets out, in particular, the independent person’s opinion as to whether children are effectively safeguarded and the conduct of the home promotes 02/03/2018 Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 5 children’s well-being. (Regulation 44(4)(a)(b))

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Recommendations

 The registered person must ensure that the home has enough suitably trained staff on duty to meet the assessed needs of all children in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 51, paragraph 10.1) This is in particular reference to ensuring that all the staff receive appropriate training, such as physical intervention refresher training.  The missing from home return interview should be carried out within 72 hours of the child returning to their home or care setting. This should be an in-depth interview and is normally best carried out by an independent person (for example, someone not involved in caring for the child), who is trained to carry out these interviews and is able to follow up any actions that emerge. (‘Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care’, page 14, paragraph 32)

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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

This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 6 Unique reference number: SC484357

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Aurora Care Young Peoples Services

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Janine Shortman-Thomas, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC484357 7 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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