Children's home run by Pathfinders (childcare) Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 1 SC381722 Registered provider: Pathfinders (Childcare) Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This private children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 15 to 16 November 2018

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Date of last inspection: 1 November 2017

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

01/11/2017 Full Outstanding 09/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/12/2016 Full Outstanding 17/02/2016 Interim Improved effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Young people are very happy and settled living at the home. They are making exceptional progress in all aspects of their development. School attendance is 100%, with the reports from schools demonstrating how well the young people are doing. One school provider said: ‘Since living at the home [name] has made so much progress, both in attendance and in overall progress. The consistent boundaries and support provided by the staff have helped him to really come on in his social and emotional development as well as educationally. The staff attend all meetings, work in partnership with the school and demonstrate total commitment to him. It is wonderful to see the progress he has made and the young person he has become.’ Young people enjoy spending time with their friends and access a range of recreational activities, including football, singing lessons, youth groups and swimming. The young people’s friends visit them at their home for tea and they are invited to take part in trips

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

out and activities. One young person said, ‘It’s great because my best friend comes here, and we have a really good time. He has also joined in on trips out which is fun.’ The range of activities provide the young people with experiences which they greatly enjoy as well as showing them that they are valued and cared for. Consultation and gaining the views of young people are central to the ethos of the home. Young people have the opportunity to express their wishes and, when it is not possible to act on them, the staff ensure that there is clear explanation, enabling the young people to have insight into the reason why. One young person said, ‘I think the staff are fair and listen to what I have to say.’ Young people’s health needs are very well met. They are registered with appropriate healthcare services and attend appointments. Where additional specialist health services are required, staff advocate for the young people and ensure that these are sourced.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

This includes access to psychological services to help young people manage and understand their emotional health. Training and support is also provided to staff, who demonstrate great insight into the history and background of the young people and how this may impact on their attachments and ongoing development. External professionals say that the nurturing and supportive practice by staff at the home has enabled young people to progress because they feel safe, cared for and happy. The home is warm, welcoming and provides a safe environment for the young people. It is decorated and maintained well, with young people choosing the decor for their own bedrooms and personalising them to their own style and choice.

p.3

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

Keeping young people safe is integral to the daily practice of staff, who clearly demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of the young people living at the home. Young people say that they feel very safe, happy and protected by staff. This is a Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 4 view shared by parents/guardians and other professionals. Detailed and inclusive risk assessments are comprehensive and highlight known risks and action taken to minimise them. Risk assessments are reviewed monthly, or when there is any change to risk factors. These changes are discussed in handover meetings and documentation is signed by staff, demonstrating that they are aware of any changes and their responsibilities in promoting the safety and welfare of young people. This practice means that staff follow all procedures to safeguard the young people effectively. Since the last inspection, there have not been any incidents of young people going

p.3

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

missing from home. However, in the event of this occurring, staff know the procedures to follow. The manager keeps her safeguarding knowledge updated through regular training, research and attendance at the local authority provider forum. Information from this is used to keep staff knowledge current and the home’s locality risk assessment up to date. This ensures that the manager and staff are aware of local patterns and trends, which are taken into consideration when managing risk in the community. The staff work with young people to educate them and help them understand about keeping themselves safe. This includes awareness of stranger danger, internet safety, bullying and positive friendships. Staff role model ‘good parenting’ and make sure that information is given which is age appropriate and delivered in a way that the young people understand. Behaviour management is another strength of the home. Young people say they feel

p.4

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

that the house rules and expectations of them are very fair, and they are encouraged and supported to manage their own behaviours effectively. Strategies implemented depend on the age and understanding of the young person. Consequences to negative behaviour are effective, realistic and non-punitive. For example, one young person damaged some property and, consequently, helped to clean up and rectify the damage caused. A social worker said, ‘Since [name] has lived at the home, boundaries and routines implemented have provided him with clear structure, contributing to his significantly improved behaviours. Their practice is exceptionally child focused. I cannot fault the care and support that they provide.’ Since the last inspection, there have been no additional staff recruited to the home. That said, when recruitment does take place, it is in line with safer recruitment guidance and practice. This means that the manager takes every precaution to ensure that young

p.4

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

people are protected from people who may pose a risk to them.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has been in post for nine years and is highly committed to meeting the needs of the young people at the home. Her practice is child-focused, ensuring that young people have excellent support and opportunity to achieve outstanding outcomes. She holds relevant qualifications and maintains her knowledge and skills by ongoing self-development, using research and training. Her high aspirations for the young people are reflected throughout the established staff team, which clearly understands and supports the aims and ethos of the home as outlined in the statement Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 5 of purpose, as well as providing stability for the young people. The staff benefit from monthly supervision which enables them to reflect on their practice. Regular team meetings provide the appropriate support and challenge as well as an ongoing training and information forum. Staff research and present a range of

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

topics within the team meetings for discussion, which further aids overall knowledge and ongoing development. All staff hold relevant childcare qualifications and undertake mandatory training to make sure that their skills and practice remain current. The manager has clear and effective audit and monitoring systems in place which provide an overview of the care practice. This enables her and the staff team to continue to build on the strengths of the home. External independent monitoring is also used to provide a critical overview of the home. The manager welcomes this to ensure that consistent high standards are adhered to. She immediately acts to address any shortfalls identified and has ensured that the requirement made at the last inspection has been met in full. This was in relation to the statement of purpose containing details about the arrangements of professional supervision for staff. Young people say that they have a real voice in their care and support provided. One

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

young person said, ‘This is my home and I think of everyone here as a family. I am very happy because all the staff care about me and I feel safe here.’

p.5

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.

p.5

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: SC381722 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathfinders (Childcare) Limited

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Middle Red Lumb Farm, Red Lumb, Rochdale OL12 7TX

p.6

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Elizabeth Cooper

p.6

Inspector

Sarah Oldham, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 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.

p.6

Inspector

If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 1231, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

p.7

Inspector

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

p.7

Inspector

T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: http://www.gov.uk/ofsted

p.7