Children's home run by Cherry Cottage Limited in Wigan

Inspection report children’s home: SC398367 1 SC398367 Registered provider: Cherry Cottage Limited

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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 owned by a private company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to four children who may have challenging behaviour and/or may be emotionally vulnerable. There is a manager in post who is not yet registered.

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Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 20 to 21 November 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: 13 September 2017

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC398367 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

13/09/2017 Full Good 28/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 10/10/2016 Full Good 18/02/2016 Interim Sustained effectiveness Inspection report children’s home: SC398367 3

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Recommendations

 Staff should have the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to help children understand, and where necessary work to change negative behaviours in key areas of health such as attending appointments. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 35, paragraph 7.18)  Staff should provide a nurturing environment that is welcoming such as ensuring young people’s bedroom carpets are cleaned or replaced. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 15, paragraph 3.7)  Staff should be familiar with the home’s policies on record keeping and understand the importance of careful, objective and clear recording. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 62, paragraph 14.4)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people live in a welcoming environment. The home is decorated to a high standard. Framed photographs show young people having fun on trips out with staff. Staff encourage and support young people to invest in their home. Young people choose the themes and colours for their bedrooms. However, young people’s bedroom carpets are old and worn and need replacing. A recommendation is raised to reflect this. Staff know young people well and have positive relationships with them. Staff provide a nurturing environment and ensure that there are clear routines and boundaries. This provides young people with stability and security. This has reduced young people’s risk- taking behaviour, such as going missing from the home. Staff value young people’s education. Staff advocate on behalf of the young people to ensure that they receive the right level of education. The home’s staff and education staff work together. This ensures that both disciplines provide consistent care. It has

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

resulted in young people attending and engaging in their education. Young people are working towards independence. Cooking skills and household tasks ensure that young people are prepared for adulthood. Staff support young people to write and distribute their CV to retailers. Young people can become disheartened if they don’t receive feedback. Staff intend to ask companies to send a brief reply. This is to assist young people to remain motivated. Staff support and encourage young people to care for others in the world. Young people will choose gifts for the shoe box appeal. This activity will teach them about empathy and compassion. Inspection report children’s home: SC398367 4 Staff are proud of young people’s talents. They provide opportunities for young people to develop their interests and skills. Staff source artists who support and teach the young people how to develop their skills. Staff have enabled a young person to display

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

his graffiti artwork in the garden. This will increase his confidence and self-esteem. Young people have safe contact with their families in line with their plans. Young people receive consistent care that supports their culture and identity .

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

Staff give children’s safety high priority. They teach young people how to keep safe when they are out in the community. Young people are managing their free time well. They keep in contact with staff and return home at the agreed time. A young person said, ‘Staff tell us how to keep safe. I know how to keep myself safe when I go out on free time anyway.’ Staff assess when to admit a new young person to the home. They consider each young person’s risks and behaviours. They ensure that young people are well matched. They ensure that there is minimal disruption to the existing young people. Physical intervention is only used to keep the young person, staff and other young people safe. Staff have undertaken the relevant training to ensure that they are using the correct procedures. Interventions used are of a low level and the need for this method has reduced since the last inspection. The manager evaluates these strategies to

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

ensure that they are necessary and proportionate. Staff are committed to assisting young people to overcome difficult and challenging behaviour. They have good insight into young people’s emotional needs. Behaviour management plans include the use of humour and distraction. These strategies are proving successful in helping young people to manage their emotions in a more positive way. The home’s area risk assessment is reviewed on a regular basis. Managers ensure that strategies for managing the identified risks are effective. The risks to the young people of sexual exploitation, criminalisation and radicalisation are considered. Staff complete the relevant training. This enhances staff knowledge and understanding of the risks and appropriate strategies to manage these. Risk assessments and behaviour management plans are thorough. Staff identify young people’s individual needs and risks and consider how best to manage these. The

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

organisation’s therapist advises staff on strategies to manage young people’s behaviours. Some young people struggle to make sense of their emotions. Staff are patient and are consistent in their responses to young people. They help young people to overcome these feelings and use rewards to re-enforce positive behaviour. A social worker said, ‘Staff support [name] with her sensory needs. She is very articulate but struggles with friendships.’

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s manager has made an application to register as the manager of this home. Inspection report children’s home: SC398367 5 She is child focused and prioritises the young people’s needs. She is supported by an experienced deputy manager. She is currently undertaking the level 5 diploma in leadership and management. The manager has a good understanding of the progress that young people make. Young people’s views on their care are important to staff and managers. Their opinions are considered and implemented, wherever appropriate. The manager monitors young people’s progress. This helps her to identify any developing patterns and trends and address any areas of concern. Staff recording needs to be improved. There is no evidence to show that staff have talked to young people about the importance of attending health appointments. Records also lack clarity in relation to the reasons for this appointment. Recommendations are

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

raised to reflect these shortfalls. The organisation is chosen to assist in a pilot scheme around attachment. The project will examine the stages before attachment difficulties, and how to work through them. The full extent of this project will be written into a book. This will enhance the knowledge, understanding and practice of staff. Staff are looking forward to this. A member of staff said, ‘[Name] is very passionate about her work. We are really looking forward to this.’ Staff receive regular supervision which focuses on the progress of young people. Training is current and specific to the young people’s complex emotional needs. Staff say that this is helpful in developing their knowledge, skills and practice. A staff member said of the manager, ‘She’s approachable and knows her stuff. She’s great.’ The home’s development plan identifies areas to improve staff practice. This includes strategies to develop staff in their therapeutic roles. Staff will gain an understanding of

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

the theories behind this method. A training plan is in place. The home’s clinician will complete monthly consultations with staff. This will enable staff to relate theory to practice. This knowledge will assist young people to manage their emotions in a positive way.

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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 Inspection report children’s home: SC398367 6 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: SC398367 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Cherry Cottage Limited

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 28 Finch Mill Avenue, Appley Bridge, Wigan, Lancashire WN6 9DF

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Inspector

Jo Hornby, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC398367 8 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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