Children's Home run by New Horizons NW Limited in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: 1264538 1 Registered provider: New Horizons (NW) Ltd

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and behavioural difficulties. The home is operated by a private company. This is the home’s first inspection following registration with Ofsted. The manager has been registered with Ofsted since October 2017.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

The children’s home provides effective services that meet the requirements for good.

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: 1264538 2

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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 meeting the quality standards, the registered person must ensure that— care is delivered by a person who has the experience, knowledge and skills to deliver that care, with particular regards to radicalisation, child sexual exploitation and child exploitation. (Regulation 6(3)(c)(i)) 08/06/2018

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Requirement Due date

Ensure that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm, with particular regard to risk assessments. (Regulation 12(2)(b)) 08/06/2018

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Recommendations

 The registered person should ensure that children are offered a wide range of activities both inside and outside of the home (where appropriate) and are encouraged to participate in those activities. Staff should support children to take part in school trips, out of school and other clubs, volunteering and leisure activities. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 31, paragraph 6.5)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is well maintained. There is a large garden where children can play, build dens and go camping. Staff support young people to make happy memories. However, young people spoke about wanting a bike and to have more activities to do in an evening and at weekends.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people were present during this inspection. Young people were observed to have positive relationships with the staff. They are comfortable and relaxed in their home and were happy to talk and spend time with the inspector. Inspection report children’s home: 1264538 3 Educational attendance is excellent. Staff have high aspirations for young people to gain good outcomes for their long-term futures. They find out what young people are interested in and encourage and support them to develop these interests. This builds young people’s confidence and assists them to prepare for future jobs.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff develop individual care plans for young people, demonstrating staff’s understanding of young people’s specific needs. They plan young people’s care, taking into account young people’s histories. Care plans are reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that they reflect any changes in young people’s care.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide opportunities for young people to give their views on their care. They choose their activities and what they like to eat. Young people can share any concerns they have with their staff. They know how to make a complaint and who to contact if they need to raise concerns with someone who is independent of the home.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff are committed to maintaining the safety and well-being of the young people in their care. Individual risk assessments are regularly reviewed to ensure that any changes are recorded. The information is shared between the members of the staff team, to ensure that young people receive consistent care. However, some copying between risk assessments has resulted in risk assessments not always covering all of the risks that are relevantto individual young people. This fails to provide staff with sufficient information to deliver safe care. A requirement is made to address this shortfall.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

All staff receive training in managing behaviours and the use of de-escalation methods. Since the home’s registration with Ofsted, there has been one incident of physical intervention. When sanctions are used, they are well recorded and proportionate.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Some young people are using their free time safely. The home’s area risk assessment provides information on locations that young people need to avoid. Staff teach young people how to use the internet safely and how to keep safe in the community.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

There has been one occasion when young people did not return from their education provision and were missing from home. Staff followed the missing from home procedures to promote the safety of young people. In addition, staff acknowledge that young people want to be with their friends and will visit the homes of young people’s friends to ensure that the young people that they care for are safe and well.

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How well children and young people are helped and protected: good

Staff undertake health and safety checks on a daily basis to ensure that the environment is safe and free from hazards. Inspection report children’s home: 1264538 4

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has the necessary management qualification; he is experienced and has a good understanding of the young people’s needs. He is a dedicated and motivated leader who has good oversight of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager monitors the service on a regular basis. He evaluates the progress of young people and gives consideration to the plans for the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager provides his staff with regular supervision that is of good quality. Monthly staff meetings provide a forum for staff to discuss young people’s progress and any practice issues. All new staff complete induction training. They familiarise themselves with policies, procedures and practice in the home. Although staff had received training on child sexual exploitation and safeguarding, they were unable to demonstrate a good understanding of the subject. A requirement is made to address this shortfall.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager is approachable. It is evident that the young people have a good relationship with him, and are relaxed in his company. He gains young people’s opinions about their care and he supports them to attend meetings and share their views about their care and their long-term care plan.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager works well with social workers, education staff and health professionals. This ensures that young people receive a range of care that is specific to their needs. This is effective in helping young people to make positive progress in terms of their individual goals, including keeping themselves safe from harm.

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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

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: 1264538 5

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: New Horizons (NW) Ltd

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Ground Floor, 18–20 Coronation Walk, Southport, Merseyside PR8 1RE

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Inspector

Elaine Clare, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1264538 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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Inspector

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