Children's home run by Your Chapter Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1249035 1 Registered provider: Care 4 Children Residential Services Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and run by a private company. It is registered to provide care for up to six children and young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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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 sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is still in its first operative year following its registration with Ofsted. For much of that time, it has continued to develop and progress. However, early in January it experienced a short period of unrest due to challenges presented by young people and a raft of unconnected staff sickness. The manager is currently off work and has tendered their resignation. This has resulted in additional staff being brought in to work at the home. The period of unrest resulted in a short time when the consistency of care provided to young people declined.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered individual, who also has managerial oversight of the home, acted quickly and decisively to combat the challenges as they occurred. The staff group has been supported by bringing in experienced staff from other homes within the parent company. An experienced manager from another home has also been brought in as the interim manager. The home has been well supported by senior staff throughout this period, and Inspection report children’s home: 1249035 2 this has allowed the home to regain its stability. Sensible plans are in place to reinforce the current staff group, along with a proactive response to recruiting a new manager. This has resulted in a brief, but difficult period in the home’s history being successfully managed, with clear plans in place for continued development.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Throughout the difficulties experienced, staff have remained supportive. Young people who currently live in the home have responded positively to staff support and guidance, due, in the main, to the good relationships they have with them. A young person told the inspector, `There have been some issues with staff, but the ones who are here now are good.’ Another said, `I am happier here than my last placement.’

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

All young people in the home are in stable, long-term placements. Detailed plans and assessments of risk are in place that are reviewed and updated regularly. This keeps them current and provides staff with relevant information about the individual needs and requirements for each young person in their care. All young people are in full-time education and attend the on-site school. Overall, and based on individual starting points, each young person in the home is making good progress socially, emotionally and educationally.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home provides boundaries, giving young people structure and routine. Behaviour is addressed in a non-punitive environment, where difficult and challenging events are well managed. This allows young people to quickly stabilise their behaviour, reflecting the strength of relationships that exist between themselves and staff. Records of behavioural events are generally well kept, although gaps were found in some missing from home records.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff and young people are mindful of the dangers that can be posed within the local community. Despite this, and with careful planning, young people get to experience a wide range of community-based facilities that surround the home. For example, on the day of the inspection, which coincided with half term, young people went shopping, attended a local gym and went for a walk in the countryside.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

A tour of the home revealed that, overall, the repairs, fixtures, furnishings, decor and equipment are of a good standard. Young people can at times cause damage but, generally, repairs are completed quickly. Young people’s bedrooms are personalised to reflect their individual tastes and interests. Staff are currently working with young people to improve the environment downstairs, to make it look more inviting and homely.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the home’s first inspection, one requirement and one recommendation were made. Both have now been addressed, leading to improvements in the identification of risks that young people could pose to themselves and others. Transition arrangements into the home by young people are also now improved and are well managed.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Despite the short, difficult period experienced earlier in the year, the home has regained its composure and equilibrium. The challenges posed have been successfully negotiated and the home finds itself in the position of being able to plan effectively and move forward. Young people who have specific difficulties and needs benefit from living in a Inspection report children’s home: 1249035 3 home that is set up and organised to manage those difficulties effectively.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The report contains no requirements. One recommendation has been made which is designed to improve the overall quality of recording in the home’s own records.

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Recommendations

 All children’s case records (regulation 36) must be kept up to date and stored securely whilst they remain in the home. Case records must be kept up to date and signed and dated by the author. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring all sections of the missing from care records are fully completed. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.3)

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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’. Inspection report children’s home: 1249035 4

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Care 4 Children Residential Services Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Care 4 Children, 1 Stuart Road, Bredbury Park Industrial Estate, Bredbury, Stockport SK6 2SR

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Inspector

Graham Robinson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1249035 5 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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