Children's home run by Choices Home for Children Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1252125 1 Registered provider: Choices Home for Children Limited 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 private organisation. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for three 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: Not applicable

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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 sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A suitably experienced registered manager manages the home. The manager has a considerable amount of experience in residential childcare. He demonstrates good leadership and management skills and leads the team well. An experienced deputy manager supports the registered manager. The management team continues to lead by example and is very child focused.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Three recommendations were made at the last inspection. Although the registered manager has addressed the majority of these, one recommendation has not been fully implemented and embedded into practice. This relates to risk assessments and plans. A requirement has therefore been made to address this shortfall. Inspection report children’s home: 1252125 2 There has been one new resident since the last inspection. This was a planned admission, with clear assessments and planning in place. The young person has settled well into their new home and they are making good progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from good support as they make the transition to independence. One young person has left the home since the last inspection. This was a positive move for the young person. Prior to the young person arriving at the home, the relationship between the young person and her mother had broken down. This relationship is now re-established and is a positive one. The young person’s mother said, ‘[Name of young person] is no longer in danger of risk like she used to be… You have saved a child’s life.’ She went on to thank the staff for their compassion and support throughout and said, ‘Without you all, I don’t know where we would be.’ The social worker also offered thanks to the staff for all their hard work and commitment for this young person. She went on to say that the ‘team has offered consistent support in all areas to promote a better relationship between [Name of young person] and her mother. At all times, [Name of

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are making good progress and they said that they like living here. The care they receive is in line with their care plans. Young people are accessing education, and their attendance and attainment are good. The manager and staff work in partnership with other agencies to ensure that young people are accessing the correct educational provision to meet their needs. Where this proves difficult to achieve, the manager challenges appropriately. Subsequently, young people access the correct educational services and receive support to help them to reach their potential.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff know the young people well and are able to use this knowledge to support them to achieve their full potential. Young people have positive and trusting relationships with staff and they feel safe. This is a key strength of the home. Young people are honest about their wishes and feelings, and they share their concerns and worries. Staff are supportive and proactive, and act on any information shared in a sensitive and reassuring way.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit from effective behaviour management practices. Good, positive and respectful relationships between young people and staff supports this. Sanctions and the use of restraints are rare. On occasion, staff use physical interventions to defuse and manage incidents. In these instances, staff follow clear policies and procedures and use the accredited techniques that they have received training to carry out. Staff record incidents well. Young people receive follow-up debriefs and key-work sessions, to allow time to reflect on the incident. Staff also have follow-up debriefs.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people receive the support that they need to understand and manage their own risk-taking behaviour. Key-work sessions and the appropriate interventions from specialist practitioners continue to be a strength of the home. However, there are occasions when young people do not receive the required specialist interventions that will help them. In these instances, the assessment of need is not completed and consequently the young person does not receive the additional support they require. Inspection report children’s home: 1252125 3 Risk assessments have improved since the last inspection. They are now individual to each young person. However, staff do not always identify all known risks. Furthermore, on occasions staff do not follow the agreed risk strategies. Consequently, young people take part in avoidable risk-taking behaviour.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

When the needs and risks are clear, staff effectively safeguard young people. Staff work together with the young people and partner agencies to ensure that everyone understands the risks, and that these are managed both sensitively and appropriately. They follow procedures well and ensure that all relevant people have the required information in a timely way. In addition, they follow advice and guidance from other professionals and agencies, and ensure that the young people are safe. They provide continuous support to the young people and show empathy and understanding. This gives young people the reassurance they need to feel safe and supported.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have access to a range of activities. Staff support young people to try new experiences and to have fun. Where young people have specific interests, staff explore ways to help them develop these further. Young people speak fondly about the activities. It is evident that participating in these activities is supporting young people to grow in confidence.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people receive support to have regular contact with their families and friends. When contact arrangements are not working well, staff explore alternative ways to facilitate contact. Young people benefit from this and speak positively about it.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The quality of recording is, overall, good. Since the last inspection, the management team has developed a quality assurance system to monitor and evaluate the quality of practice. Managers said that this system supports the management oversight of the care that young people receive.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

02/08/2017 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: 1252125 4

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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 health and well-being standard is that the health and well- being needs of children are met; children receive advice, services and support in relation to their health and well-being; and children are helped to lead healthy lifestyles. (Regulation 10 (1)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that young people’s emotional needs are assessed in a timely way and that the identified needs are managed and monitored accordingly. Furthermore, ensure that the relevant provision is put in place to address the young people’s needs. 19/03/2018

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Requirement Due date

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

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Requirement Due date

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

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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)).

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Requirement Due date

In particular, ensure that all risks are identified and understood, and that this informs effective risk management. 19/03/2018 Inspection report children’s home: 1252125 5

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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: Choices Home for Children Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Choices Home for Children Limited, 31 Wellington Road, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 7ED

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Inspector

Lisa Gregoire-Parker, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1252125 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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