Children's home run by Dynamic Childcare Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 2490784 1 Registered provider: Dynamic Childcare Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned by a limited company. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three children and young people, aged between 11 and 17 years, who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, which have led to associated trauma and presenting complex behaviours. The home offers placements on both a planned and emergency basis.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This home was registered on 29 August 2018. The manager’s registration was also completed at this time.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Since registration, the home has provided placements at different times for four young people on both an emergency short-term and planned basis. During the inspection, the inspector had the opportunity to speak with two young people to gain their views and experiences since moving into and living at the home.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Inspection dates: 20 to 21 February 2019

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: This is the first inspection since registration.

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: not applicable Inspection report children’s home: 2490784 2

p.1

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.

p.2

Requirement Due date

The registered person must keep the statement of purpose under review and, where appropriate, revise it; and notify HMCI of any revisions and send HMCI a copy of the revised statement within 28 days of the revision. (Regulation 16 (3)(a)(b)) 30/04/2019

p.2

Requirement Due date

The registered person must maintain in the home the records in Schedule 4;

p.2

Requirement Due date

ensure that the records are kept up to date; and

p.2

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))

p.2

Requirement Due date

In particular, staff rosters should include staff members full names and included the manager on the rota and hours worked. 30/04/2019

p.2

Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(e)) 30/03/2019

p.2

Recommendations

 The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied the home can respond effectively to the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 56, paragraph 11.4) Inspection report children’s home: 2490784 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Since the home was registered, four young people have moved into the home. One young person has since been discharged. Three young people are currently living at the home and were resident at the time of the inspection.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people are making good progress since they commenced living at the home. They said they are happy and commented positively about the home. One young person said, ‘It is a really good home. The only thing that would make it better is if it were nearer to my home town. But I understand the reasons for my placement being here – it is to help me to be safe.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Most placements have been made following detailed planning and impact assessments being undertaken. Placement plans are developed with the young people and this helps them to contribute their views to the plans so that they have a good understanding of their longer-term plan.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff help young people to build positive relationships with them and each other. One social worker said, ‘Staff take an interest in the young people, and [name of young person] has improved greatly from his placement at the home. In the time he has lived here his risks have significantly reduced, and he is engaging well with his education and care plan.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The manager and staff recognise the importance of education for all young people, including those who have a history of non-attendance at school. Staff provide encouragement and support for all young people to re-engage with education and are proactive in challenging placing authorities when there are delays in education being agreed.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Where appropriate, young people are supported to have agreed contact with family members. Staff help to support contact and work in partnership with the placing authorities to make sure that contact is positive for all young people.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people’s individual healthcare needs are identified, and all are registered with community healthcare professionals and attend routine appointments. Where a young person has a history of substance misuse, referrals have been made to specialist teams. However, the young people have declined this support. The staff have completed individual work sessions with them to explain the risk and impact on health and are developing a further in-house package to continue this work with the young people. As a result, there has been some decline in the use of cannabis by the young people.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The views of young people are regularly sought to encourage them to have a real say in their care. This includes regular young people’s meetings as well as individual one-to-one support and discussions. Records are well maintained and evidence clearly the links Inspection report children’s home: 2490784 4 between the young person’s overall care needs and areas where they require further support.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy a range of activities. On the first day of the inspection, young people enjoyed a trip to Blackpool. They can go to local sports facilities, the cinema, and they enjoy spending time with their friends. One young person has expressed an interest in art, and staff had sourced materials to support this.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home is a large end-of-terrace property with good indoor space and facilities. It is decorated and maintained to a good standard. Young people are encouraged to personalise their individual bedrooms. This was evident when young people showed the inspectors around their home.

p.4

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

Young people said that they feel safe at the home. Missing from home incidents have greatly reduced for young people and this has been commented on positively by placing social workers. Staff are aware of, and follow, agreed protocols to make sure that young people return to the home.

p.4

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

One young person reported that he had become involved in a confrontation with unknown people when out in the community and had sustained a bruise to his face. The staff followed appropriate first-aid procedures and offered additional medical support. However, the young person refused to engage with this. Staff provided effective monitoring and notified the placing social worker but failed to notify the regulator of this as required by regulation. A requirement has been made in relation to this.

p.4

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

Staff have undertaken training in safeguarding and child protection. They have also received training in positive behaviour management, including physical intervention. However, as de-escalation techniques used are effective, there have been no occasions when staff have had to use physical intervention.

p.4

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

Young people are encouraged to develop positive behaviours and to manage their emotions well. They have access to a clinical psychologist who provides ongoing support to staff to help them understand the reasons behind young people’s behaviours. Because of the work undertaken, consequences have rarely been used and positive re- enforcement of good behaviour has had an impact.

p.4

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

Young people said that the rules within the home are fair and equitable and staff will explain the reasons why the rules are in place.

p.4

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

Young people said that they know how to complain and have access to independent advocates. Two young people spoke with the inspectors and said that they had no concerns or worries about how to make a complaint and felt that if they did, it would be addressed fairly. Inspection report children’s home: 2490784 5

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has been in post since the home was registered in August 2018. He had previously been registered as manager at another home run by the organisation. He is a qualified social worker and holds the level 5 diploma in children’s social care.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The staff team has been recruited specifically to work within this home from commencement of the registration process. Half of the staff team members hold the level 3 diploma in working with children and young people, with the others currently undertaking this qualification. This means there is always a qualified member of staff on duty at any one time. Young people benefit from the consistency in the staff team.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has introduced a new computer recording system which links to the expected outcomes for children and young people. Staff have received training on this and the system helps the managers to monitor the service. This monitoring is further supported by external independent monthly monitoring. Any shortfalls identified are acted on to rectify them in a timely manner.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff said that they have good levels of support and supervision, which is held monthly. In addition, they said that the manager is on-site every day and provides informal supervision for them. Team meetings are detailed and enable the staff to reflect on their practice. Staff rotas demonstrate that there are adequate staff on duty to meet the needs of the young people. However, the manager has not included himself on the rota and this does not demonstrate the hours he is working within the home. A requirement has been made in relation to this.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff undertake core training to enable them to keep up to date with their skills and knowledge. Training is updated as required and staff meetings are also used as an opportunity to discuss any learning taken from training.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The home’s statement of purpose outlines the ethos and vision for the service. This is provided to interested parties. However, the most recent copy, following review, has not been provided to the regulator as required. A requirement has been made in relation to this.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager is aware of the procedures to follow to notify significant events to the regulator. However, there has been one incident which has not been notified. Although there was evidence that all appropriate action was taken following the incident, the regulator did not have enough oversight at the time. A requirement has been made.

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 Inspection report children’s home: 2490784 6 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: 2490784 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dynamic Childcare Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 11 Retiro Street, Oldham OL1 1SA

p.7

Inspector

Sarah Oldham, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 2490784 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 looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8