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

Inspection report children’s home: 1254555 1 Registered provider: Next Stage 4 Life Interim 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 two young people up to the age of 18. The registered manager has been registered since 21 November 2018.

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Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged requires improvement to be 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

Since the last inspection, no young people have been admitted or discharged.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The new registered manager has been instrumental in improving the quality of care provided to young people. A significant factor in this has been the establishment of a stable and experienced staff team to care for young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff provide young people with reliable care. This has provided young people with a greater sense of stability. This has been a key factor in the progress that both young people have made.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have worked hard to overcome barriers to young people engaging with education. For one young person, this means that they have been reintegrated back into a full-time education placement. This is a fantastic achievement. Staff’s ongoing support and Inspection report children’s home: 1254555 2 encouragement are helping to maintain this progress.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff acknowledge and celebrate young people’s educational success. Young people regularly receive praise and rewards for their attendance and good behaviour at school. This contributes to young people’s blossoming self-esteem and confidence.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people who previously struggled to socialise with others now lead busy and active lives. Attendance at extra-curricular groups and overnight stays with friends have supported young people to have fun and develop their personal identity.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good understanding of young people’s health needs. When required, staff utilise the input of primary and specialist health services to plan the best way to support young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people experience a well-maintained and homely environment. Staff regularly consult young people on how to develop the home. Staff act on their requests or explain to young people why it may not be possible. This ensures that young people have a say in the care that they receive.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have a good understanding of young people’s vulnerabilities. For example, staff are alert to the potential for young people to self-harm. Staff have put in place appropriate plans to manage these known risks.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff work preventatively to provide young people with advice and guidance on how to keep themselves safe. When young people do place themselves at risk, staff take the required action to minimise the potential for harm. There has only been one incident of going missing and one physical intervention since the last inspection. This is an indication of how settled the home has been.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Notwithstanding this, the registered manager did not ensure that a significant safeguarding incident had been reported to Ofsted prior to the inspection. The impact of this is limited, as the registered manager had ensured that the necessary steps had been taken to safeguard the young person.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager does not ensure that she maintains a roster of the shifts that she has worked. This means that records do not consistently demonstrate when the manager has been in day-to-day charge of the home. This is an administrative issue as staff report that the registered manager is in the home daily and provides excellent support.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The driven and passionate registered manager is child-focused in her approach. She has a solid understanding of the home’s strengths and areas of development. Despite this, one of the four requirements raised at the last inspection has only been partially met. Specifically, although the registered manager has completed a quality of care review, it has not been submitted to Ofsted within the required timescales. The impact of this is low. Inspection report children’s home: 1254555 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

10/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 16/02/2018 Interim Declined in effectiveness 13/11/2017 Full Good

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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

Schedule 4 sets out the other information that the registered person must keep in relation to a children’s home.

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Requirement Due date

maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

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Requirement Due date

retain the records for at least 15 years from the date of the last entry. (Regulation 37 (1)(2)(a)(b)(c))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, a roster of shifts worked by the registered manager should be maintained. 01/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

a child is involved in or subject to, or is suspected of being involved in or subject to, sexual exploitation;

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there; 01/05/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1254555 4 a child protection enquiry involving a child— is instigated; or concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii) and (e)) The registered person must—

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed. (Regulation 45 (4)(a)) 01/05/2019

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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’. Inspection report children’s home: 1254555 5

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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

Paul Robinson, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1254555 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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