Children's home run by Next Stage 4 Life Limited

Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 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 three young people up to the age of 18, who have a range of complex needs based on their previous traumatic experiences.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager has been registered with Ofsted since 21 November 2018.

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Information about this children’s home

Judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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Information about this children’s home

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 sustained effectiveness.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been one transition from the home. The transition took place under difficult circumstances because of the young person’s emotional health needs. The staff showed a real commitment to the young person during this time and ensured that this was a positive ending. Indeed, the registered manager has continued to work with the placing authority to contribute to his care plan. This is typical of the child-focused approach of the staff.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The transition of this young person marks the end of a challenging and busy period. The young person’s vulnerability and risk to others resulted in a high number of physical interventions. Staff took all reasonable steps to avoid the use of such measures of control. Staff worked successfully with partner agencies to implement strategies to Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 2 manage the presenting risks. However, the decision was eventually made that staff were no longer able to safely maintain his placement.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

One young person has moved into the home since the last inspection. The registered manager’s planning has contributed to the young person settling well during the initial stages of her placement. The young person’s limited time in the placement means that it is difficult to review the progress made.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

In the main, staff have demonstrated the ability to keep young people safe. However, in one instance, there was a delay in seeking medical advice and ensuring that a young person received a medical check-up following a self-harm incident. Although this did not result in any harm to the young person, it had the potential to do so.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not ensure that young people have access to all areas of the home. On the day of the inspection, a downstairs communal area was locked. This appears to be habitual staff practice. The impact for the young person is limited. The registered manager took steps on the day of the inspection to reduce the likelihood of this practice continuing.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager has not implemented a system to review the appropriateness of bedroom door alarms. As such, the use of alarms is indiscriminate and not based on the assessed needs of young people. In addition, the registered manager does not ensure that written consent is obtained from local authorities to use these alarms. Notwithstanding this, the impact for the current young person is low, and her vulnerabilities mean that bedroom door alarms are a proportionate safeguard.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

In some cases, staff are slow to address repairs in the home. Specifically, the young person’s bathroom has a damaged shower and toilet. This not only detracts from the otherwise homely feel of the property but is also having an impact on the young person’s privacy. In response to the inspection, the registered manager acted to arrange for these repairs to be completed in the immediate future.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff do not always demonstrate a good enough understanding of fire safety. For example, staff use doorstops to hold open fire doors. This has the potential to increase the risk of harm in the event of a fire. The registered manager has now acted to address any immediate fire safety concerns.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The registered manager’s oversight of the home has not been good enough. Consequently, while there are many examples of young people receiving tailored personalised care, inconsistent staff practice has had an impact on the overall quality of care provided to young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Two requirements were raised at the last full inspection. One of these requirements has been met. All staff who work with young people have undertaken first aid training. The second requirement raised at the last inspection has not been met. Specifically, recruitment and retention of staff have continued to prove a challenge. As a result, there have been several changes in the staff team. Non-permanent staff have been required to cover vacancies. This means that young people are not always looked after by a stable Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 3 staff team. This has contributed to the inconsistent care provided to young people.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Positively, this is an improving picture. Although one vacancy remains, enough staff are now in post to look after the existing young person. Furthermore, a deputy manager has recently started in post. This will provide the home with increased management capacity. This is critical when taking into consideration the fact that the registered manager is also responsible for a second children’s home.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Although staff are provided with substantial training, in some instances there are delays in targeted training being offered. For example, identified training in relation to young people who are at risk of self-harm and using ligatures has not been completed by all staff. Of reassurance, this is scheduled to take place.

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

24/05/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 23/01/2018 Interim Sustained effectiveness 05/09/2017 Full Requires improvement to be 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

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; and

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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— 01/05/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 4 ensure that the premises used for the purposes of the home are designed and furnished so as to—

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Requirement Due date

meet the needs of each child (Regulation 6 (1)(a)(b) and (2)(c)(i))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the young person’s toilet and shower is repaired. The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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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

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home has sufficient staff to provide care for each child; and

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Requirement Due date

ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a)(b)(2)(c)(d)(e))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that when gaps in staff skills are identified training is provided in a timely manner. 01/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

the privacy of children is appropriately protected;

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Requirement Due date

children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises; and

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Requirement Due date

any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and 01/05/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 5 allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the front downstairs communal room is unlocked and available to the young person unless there is an assessed risk which requires access to be restricted. The registered person may only use devices for the monitoring or surveillance of children if—

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the child concerned, or other children;

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Requirement Due date

the child’s placing authority consents in writing to the monitoring or surveillance;

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Requirement Due date

so far as reasonably practicable in the light of the child’s age and understanding, the child is informed in advance of the intention to do the monitoring or surveillance; and

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Requirement Due date

the monitoring or surveillance is no more intrusive than necessary, having regard to the child’s need for privacy. (Regulation 24 (1)(a)(b)(c)(d))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that the use of bedroom door alarms is based on the assessed needs of the young person. Such assessments should be kept under review. Written consent from the placing authority to use such devices should be obtained. 01/05/2019

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Requirement Due date

If the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005(a) applies to the home—

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Requirement Due date

the registered person must ensure that the requirements of that Order and any regulations made under it, except for article 23 (duties of employees), are complied with in respect of the home. (Regulation 25 (2)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered person should ensure that staff do not restrict the functioning of fire doors by using doorstops. 01/05/2019 Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 6

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Recommendations

 Staff need the knowledge and skills to recognise and be alert for any signs that might indicate a child is in any way at risk of harm. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 43, paragraph 9.12). In particular, the registered person should ensure that required medical treatment is sought without delay following any self-harm incidents.

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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’.

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Children’s home details

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

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Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Jeremy Alston Inspection report children’s home: 1256904 7 Registered manager: Nicola Brown

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Inspector

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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