Children's Home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC390577 1 SC390577 Registered provider: Meadows Care Ltd Interim 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 up to three children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

If required, children and young people can access the organisation’s school and therapy department.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has demonstrated a commitment to improving the care and safeguarding arrangements in the home. This includes taking suitable action to address the five requirements and three recommendations from the previous inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has been admitted to the home since the last inspection. This young person arrived in a well-assessed and planned way with initial signs that she was appropriately matched with the young person who had been in placement since November 2016. This was a relatively short placement for the young person who has Inspection report children’s home: SC390577 2 since left the home due to risks in the community and an assault on another young person. There is good evidence that the registered manager and staff have tried hard to manage her risks, but have been ineffective in breaking patterns of concerning behaviour. This was also the case for another young person who left shortly after the previous inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people leaving has resulted in a significant reduction in incidents, in particular missing from home. Staff understand what is required of them when young people go missing, and did take appropriate action in response to incidents of this type. Where necessary, the registered manager has involved specialist agencies, such as the police and the child sexual exploitation team. This promoted a multi-agency approach to managing behaviour and contributed to the decision about whether the placements can be safely maintained.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Decisions to end placements have been made in the best interests of young people. In both cases, when notice has been served on the placement, the registered manager has kept each of the placing authorities informed and has worked with them to support transitions to alternative placements. This has created an opportunity to re-focus their attention on the young person who remains living at the home, and has proven effective in helping provide a more focused approach to meeting their complex needs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person currently living in the home has support from a two to one staff ratio. She is very settled and is making positive progress in many aspects of her life. For example, she is routinely attending school and is making notable progress with her studies. It is clear that she has a good relationship with staff. Staff are working closely with the in-house therapist in an effort to help the young person understand and manage her anxieties and learn to regulate her own behaviour. This is proving effective in reducing incidents of aggression towards staff, which are managed through the skilful use of de-escalation. Consequently, the need for physical intervention is rare.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person is very positive about her experiences while living at the home. She recognises the progress she is making and attributes this to a number of staff. She said, ‘I like it here. Staff push me to achieve. I am quite anxious and staff try to help me with this. I am getting better and they were really proud of me when I managed to stay in the cinema.’ She went on to say, ‘They make me feel safe. The staff are good and I like to laugh with them. I think I am doing okay, especially at school and with my behaviour.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person’s records have improved and provide a good insight into her needs, progress and areas for development. The registered manager is fully involved in the implementation of care plans and ensures that records are up to date. For example, risk assessments now accurately reflect young people’s behaviours, risks and vulnerabilities and staff are consistent in their implementation of agreed risk management strategies. Staff spoken to during the inspection demonstrated a good understanding of their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and know what action they need to take in response to safeguarding concerns or allegations.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been three referrals to children’s social care, all of which have been Inspection report children’s home: SC390577 3 effectively managed and demonstrate a multi-agency approach to safeguarding. Allegations against staff, of which there have been 17, and which in the main have been unsubstantiated, have been appropriately investigated in collaboration with external safeguarding agencies and professionals. Overall, there is a robust response to managing concerns, which has ensured that the right action has been taken to protect young people and staff. The registered manager has ensured that Ofsted is made aware of such incidents but does not always send updated notifications when matters are concluded.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The number of young people this home can accommodate was increased from two to three in July 2017. This was in agreement with Ofsted and on the condition that, when optimum occupancy is achieved, the registered manager will resign her registration for the second home she runs. Currently, she continues to successfully split her time between the two homes with no immediate plans to admit another young person. This is to enable the staff to spend time preparing the young person to share her home once more, something that she has had difficulty with in the past. Focused key work is used to help her develop an understanding of herself and how her behaviour can impact on others. Staff are talking to her about the type of young people she would like to live with, information that will be fed into the matching process for future admission. The young person said, ‘Staff talk to me a lot about my behaviour and how I feel. I have

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

struggled to live with the ones that were here because I am easily led. I have spoken about the kind of children I want to live with.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The standard of accommodation has improved. Damage identified at the previous inspection has been repaired with the overall standard of accommodation being good. At the time of the inspection, a number of rooms were being refurbished in preparation for accommodating three young people in the future.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

23/05/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good 11/01/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/05/2016 Full Requires improvement 06/01/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC390577 4

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Recommendations

 The registered person should have a system in place so that all serious events are notified to the appropriate people. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 63, paragraph 14.13) This is with specific reference to ensuring that Ofsted is provided with update notifications when matters relating to serious events are concluded.

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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’. Inspection report children’s home: SC390577 5

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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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Inspector

Paul Scott, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC390577 6 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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