Children's Home run by Next Stage 4Life Limited in Bury

Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 1 Registered provider: Next Stage 4 Life

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

This home is operated by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people irrespective of gender. The home specialises in caring for young people who have been or who are experiencing emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 12 to 13 September 2018

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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

Date of last inspection: first inspection

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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: 1270297 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

The quality and purpose of care standard is that children receive care from staff who—

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Requirement Due date

understand the children’s home’s overall aims and the outcomes it seeks to achieve for children;

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Requirement Due date

use this understanding to deliver care that meets children’s needs and supports them to fulfil their potential.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

understand and apply the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

provide to children personal items that are appropriate for their age and understanding; and

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Requirement Due date

make decisions about the day-to-day arrangements for each child, in accordance with the child’s relevant plans, which give the child an appropriate degree of freedom and choice. (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b)(2)(a)(b)(viii)(ix)) 05/10/2018

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Requirement Due date

at all times, at least one person on duty at the home has a suitable first aid qualification. (Regulation 31(2)(a)) 05/10/2018 Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 3

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are settled and happy living in the home. They receive nurturing and supportive care from a stable staff team. Staff know the young people very well, invest time in them, and strive to give them the best opportunities.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s attendance at school is much improved due to the encouragement of staff. Young people are beginning to value their education and are making plans to study drama at college in the future. These are positive steps forward with young people.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy spending time with their friends and access recreational activities. They have completed work experience at the local horse riding centre. Photographs show staff and young people enjoying time together and having fun.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have a good understanding of young people’s background and history. Life-story work and memory books are completed with young people. Staff have also taken young people back to their birthplace, to help them to understand their life journey.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Care planning is generally good and young people’s day-to-day needs, such as routine privacy and enjoyable meal times, are met. However, funding around extra money for haircuts, toiletries and personal care for individual young people is not clear. This can hamper young people’s choice and expression of preference. This was addressed at the inspection by the registered manager.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are in good health. They are registered with appropriate healthcare services and attend all necessary appointments. They are encouraged to eat healthily and to exercise. They receive regular therapeutic input and support in relation to all aspects of their health and well-being from a trained psychologist.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A warm welcome is part of the introduction to the home alongside a children’s guide explaining how the home runs. Effective consultation is regularly undertaken with young people to ensure that they have the opportunities to voice their views and opinions.

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

Young people feel safe and protected. Staff help young people to understand risk and how to stay safe. They understand the need for young people to become independent and to take appropriate risks. This continues to be developed with the social worker to ensure that young people have the same freedoms as their peers.

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

Young people’s behaviour has improved significantly since coming to live in the home. The use of physical intervention is rare. This demonstrates the respectful and trusting relationships that are developing between staff and young people. Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 4 Incidents of young people going missing from care has significantly reduced. If this does happen, staff are proactive in their responses. They follow each young person’s missing- from-home protocol and report to all relevant agencies in a timely manner. Excellent relationships with the community police officer provides further reassurance and safety to young people.

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

Safer recruitment practice helps to safeguard against unsafe adults working in the home. Checks with the Disclosure and Barring Service and obtaining references from previous employers are part of this process.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

This home is managed by an experienced and qualified registered manager. He is supported by a deputy manager. Together they set the high standards of care and strive to improve the lives of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff spoken to during the inspection said that they enjoy their work. They feel supported by the manager and their team members. The staff are suitably qualified or working towards a recognised qualification. They also have regular training, supervisions and team meetings to keep them up-to-date on emerging information.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

There are sufficient numbers of staff members working at the home. However, there have been occasions when at least one person on duty has not held a suitable first aid qualification. This does not ensure the welfare of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External monitoring is good. The independent visitor attends monthly and raises actions for improvement. A quality of care review has been completed to inform and develop the standard of care provided.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Liaison with partner agencies is effective. All professionals contacted spoke very positively about the staff, the communication with them and the progress that young people make. A professional commented, ‘I have a good relationship with the staff, this is one of the best homes, communication is excellent.’

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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. Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 5 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

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Information about this inspection

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: 1270297 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Caroline Jones, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1270297 7 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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