Children's home run by Aurora Care Young People’s Services in Ribble Valley

Inspection report children’s home: SC484358 1 SC484358 Registered provider: Aurora Care Young People’s 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 offers care and accommodation for three young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties or a learning disability.

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Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home.

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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 improved effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has a good understanding of the needs of the young people in this home. She is passionate and committed to ensuring that they continue to enjoy living here. Young people spoken with during the inspection confirmed this to be true. They spoke happily about their experiences of living at this home and were pleased to share what they had achieved and done. One young person said that they viewed this home as ‘my home and not a children’s home’.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people benefit in all areas of their lives as a result of living in this home. The manager and staff are committed to making sure that young people receive the support and services that they require, irrespective of what this is for. The manager and staff ensure that young people receive a suitable education provision so that young people Inspection report children’s home: SC484358 2 continue to progress and achieve. Most young people do exceptionally well in their education provision. When this is not the case, the manager is not deterred by the challenges and barriers that she is presented with. The manager is creative and advocates well for young people at these times. Consequently, young people receive an education programme that meets their needs and helps them to achieve. This ensures that all young people, whether they attend full-time education or not, secure recognised qualifications. This has proven to be successful for some young people who have

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

experienced extended periods away from an educational setting prior to living in this home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The safeguarding arrangements in this home work well to keep young people safe. Young people feel confident and at ease in sharing their worries or concerns with the staff and the management team, who act quickly to address any issues. Good partnership working with safeguarding agencies, such as social workers and the designated officer, ensure that thorough investigations are undertaken promptly so that safe outcomes are achieved.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people have become increasingly safe as their incidents of going missing from the home have reduced. There have not been any recorded missing from home incidents since September 2017. Staff are clear about their responsibilities should young people go missing and feel confident in their ability to manage this. The manager accepts that the local authority does not always adhere to the requirements expected of it, for example by ensuring that independent return home interviews are carried out. To combat this, and while the manager attempts to address this with the placing local authorities, the staff offer return home interviews to the young people as an interim measure. Progress in this area will be reviewed at the next inspection.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to be managed by a suitably experienced registered manager who holds the required qualification. The staff and the management team have been strengthened following the changes in the staffing arrangements and the appointment of a new deputy manager to the home. The deputy manager and staff team share the manager’s commitment and passion to improving the experiences and progress of young people in their care.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has taken suitable steps to address the three requirements and four good- practice recommendations raised at the previous inspection. The following improvements have been noted:  The manager understands the areas of strength and continued development for the home. This is because she now uses her improved internal and external monitoring systems to good effect, following the requirement and recommendations raised in these areas during the last inspection.  The home environment has improved and has now been made safer for young people. . There is a new layout in the home, which allows for a further staff bedroom and a new fitted kitchen. There are new carpets, and redecoration of the hall, stairs, landing and living areas, along with new soft furnishings in a number of the rooms. All of this ensures that the home provides a warm, welcoming, safe space for young people. Young people continue to benefit from

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Inspection report children’s home: SC484358 3 having their own, individualised bedrooms that, on the whole, are suitably maintained. As required, window restrictors have now been fitted to prevent young people from fully opening their bedroom window. This enhances the safety of young people in the home.  Appropriate arrangements have now been made to accommodate the two members of staff who provide overnight care and support for young people in the home. Consequently, staff do not now sleep in the living area throughout the night, as a further staff bedroom has been provided. This promotes the privacy of staff and young people.  Improved behaviour management strategies, which, on the whole, are applied consistently by staff, are now kept under closer review and revised where appropriate. Staff use the home’s behaviour management plans to help young people to address the areas in which they have difficulties. Each plan provides

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

guidance to staff on safe behaviour management practice and strategies to manage young people’s difficult behaviour. Good management oversight identifies when staff do not use these plans consistently. This, and the follow-up support and guidance that staff and young people receive after these incidents, help to support young people to improve their behaviour. This is because young people become more resilient and tolerant and develop better self-management skills. These effective strategies and positive working relationships between the staff and young people mean that the use of physical intervention has not been required during this inspection period.  The manager works well with placing local authorities and young people to make sure that suitable arrangements are in place to support young people to move in or on from the home. The manager is able to quickly identify when young people are ready to move on. The manager and staff work well with the placing local

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

authorities at these times to make sure that young people move on in a safe and managed away. Young people who are new to the home are welcomed warmly by both staff and young people. This is because good planning and preparation takes place between the manager, placing local authorities and the staff so that everybody is prepared and ready for the transition. This helps young people to move into the home successfully and ensures that staff are well equipped to meet the young people’s needs from their point of arrival.  Planning for independence for young people has now improved in the home. The management team has reintroduced their baseline assessments so that they are clear on young people’s present strengths and areas for further work. Staff are committed to increasing young people’s independent living skills, and they provide a number of opportunities around the areas where young people are assessed to

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

have some difficulty. This helps young people to focus on areas where they need help so that they can gain new skills that will benefit them in later life. Inspection report children’s home: SC484358 4

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

03/05/2017 Full Good 26/01/2017 Full Requires improvement 19/10/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness 18/03/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness

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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: Aurora Care Young People’s 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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Children’s home details

Registered manager: Sonia Spittle Inspection report children’s home: SC484358 5

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Inspector

Janine Shortman-Thomas, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC484358 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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