Children's home run by Next Stage 4 Life Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 1 Registered provider: Next Stage 4 Life Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is one of a number of homes operated by a small private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: Requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

Date of last inspection: 5 September 2017

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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 requires improvement to be good at the last full inspection. At the interim inspection, Ofsted judges that it has sustained effectiveness. Since the last inspection, one young person has left the home unplanned. Despite a very good introduction to the home, the young person could not settle. Risky behaviours, such as going missing from care and getting involved in crime, placed the young person at heightened risk. This resulted in the staff being unable to keep the young person safe. While there are currently no young people living at the home, this inspection looked at the progress and experiences of young people who had been living at the home during the period since the last inspection. The three requirements made at the last inspection have been largely addressed. For example, management arrangements are clear and provide leadership to the staff team. Also, young people’s health information is obtained to inform care plans. Despite the

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

efforts of the staff, a young person had not attended education regularly, mainly due to going missing from care and not engaging in the opportunities on offer at the home. The staff continue to work very well with young people’s families and placing authorities to promote the needs of young people. For example, the staff attend all meetings with Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 2 professionals, gain feedback and provide regular reports about young people. A social worker said, ‘I am very happy with the placement; they couldn’t do anything more than they have done.’ The staff fully support young people to see their family members and friends regularly. They transport young people to their home town, and welcome family members into the children’s home. This enables young people to maintain significant relationships that are important to them, and to understand their identity. Notably, the staff team worked

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

successfully with a placing authority to increase contact between a young person in placement and their siblings. A stable and suitably experienced staff team remains in position. Staff provide consistency and predictability for young people settling at the home. The staff have regular training, supervisions, appraisals and team meetings to inform and develop their care practice. The staff are suitably qualified or are working towards a qualification. There are sufficient numbers of staff with the right skills to meet the needs of young people at the home. Management arrangements are much better since the last inspection. A manager is in post and his interview with Ofsted is scheduled. He has brought leadership and direction to the team. A detailed review of care practice, independent monitoring and a development plan all set the direction for improvement. The manager is fully aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the home, and has learned lessons from the

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

breakdown of a young person’s placement.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good

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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

In order to meet the care planning standard, the registered person must ensure that children have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(b)) 28/02/2018 Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 3

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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

Registered provider address: Next Stage, 28 Manchester Road, Westhoughton, Bolton BL5 3QJ

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Inspector

Caroline Jones, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 4 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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