Children's home run by Dynamic Childcare Limited

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264696 1 Registered provider: Dynamic Childcare Limited Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

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

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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 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

Two young people are living in the home and staff demonstrate a good understanding of their individual needs. The young people are safe and make good progress. One young person isn’t attending education. Staff have appropriately challenged this and are working with external agencies and the virtual head to find appropriate provision to meet his educational needs. The other young person is working towards his GCSE examinations and arrangements are in place for additional tuition.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support young people to decrease cannabis use and take effective action to address this. This has had some impact, although there are still occasions when young people have been suspected of continuing to use cannabis. Staff address this through risk management plans and educate young people on the negative impact that cannabis use can have on their health.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Young people are happy and positive about the home. One young person said that it Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264696 2 was the ‘best home’ he has lived in. Another young person said that the staff were ‘like family’ to him. One young person who previously lived at the home was supported when he left. Staff worked with the police and placing authority to ensure that the move was in his best interests. When he left the home, the young person thanked staff for their help and support.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager demonstrates good oversight of the young people’s plans and suitable monitoring systems are in place. Staff have completed training in recording to ensure consistency of reporting for each young person. The manager is child-focused and has identified ways to improve communication with the young people. For example, he is working on a visual menu to encourage young people to enjoy a varied and healthy diet. The conservatory has been converted into a games room with a pool table and numerous board games. This is an area for the young people to enjoy and staff also use the pool table to defuse situations by encouraging young people to compete in a game of pool.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff support visits between young people and their families and family members visit the home. This means that the young people maintain safe relationships with their families. There are pictures on the wall showing the young people with various members of their families. The manager started a photograph book for the young people with pictures of them on outings and doing activities with staff. This helps the young people to feel valued.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

Impact assessments are completed prior to a young person moving into the home. However, these are not sufficiently robust to fully consider young people’s needs in respect of future placements.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

There has been a reduction in young people going missing from home, as a consequence of young people being safeguarded effectively. . Behaviour management resulted in one incident of physical intervention and staff managed this well. However, recording does not reflect oversight by the manager.

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and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the last inspection, one requirement was set along with one recommendation. These have been addressed and safe recruitment procedures are now in place. Advocacy support is also available for the young people.

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What does the children’s home need to do to improve?

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264696 3

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Recommendations

 Expectations of standards of behaviour should be high for all and should be clear and unambiguous. Positive behaviour and relationships should be reinforced, praised and encouraged. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ paragraph 8.11, page 39)  The registered person must demonstrate every effort to achieve continuity of staffing so that children’s attachments are not overly disrupted, including ensuring that the employment of temporary staff will not prevent children from receiving the continuity of care that they need. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ paragraph 10.1, page 51)  The registered person should only accept placements for children where they are satisfied that the home can respond effectively to the child’s assessed needs as recorded in the child’s relevant plans and where they have fully considered the

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Recommendations

impact that the placement will have on the existing group of children. The Statement of Purpose is an important document in the process of care planning as it sets out the needs of children the home is set up and equipped to care for. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards,’ paragraph 11.4, page 56)

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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

Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264696 4 Unique reference number: 1264696

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Dynamic Childcare Limited

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Sarah Oldham, social care inspector Interim inspection report children’s home: 1264696 5 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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