Children's Home run by Nurture Childcare Services Ltd in Lancashire

Inspection report children’s home: 1238043 1 Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Ltd Interim inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The home is owned and managed by a private organisation. The home provides a stable and caring environment for young people who present with challenging behaviours relating to their past experiences. It is registered to care for five young people.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager has managed the home since March 2018.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

Enforcement action since last inspection: not applicable

p.1

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 improved effectiveness.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

At the time of the last inspection, staff in the home were caring for just one young person who required a solo placement, with high levels of staffing and in a rural community. This young person made considerable progress while living here and made a planned move to another home in the organisation, where it was possible to reduce the restrictions on his care in a planned manner and help him prepare for independence.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home is currently being utilised for another solo placement for a young person who required high levels of care and supervision on placement, being the subject of a Inspection report children’s home: 1238043 2 deprivation of liberty order (DoLS). A number of previous residential children’s homes had failed to stabilise the young person and keep her safe. The young person has now lived in the home for four months and made considerable progress in this time.

p.1

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person is benefiting from the consistent care and clear boundaries that are in place in the home. Some staff moved into the home with the young person from her previous home, as this is part of the same organisation. This helped the young person to settle and helped the staff team to get to know the young person quickly. The young person’s social worker commented in feedback to the home, ‘The home has done a fantastic job in dealing with such a complex young person. The placement has afforded her stability and allowed her to build relationships that are productive with the staff team.’

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Furthermore, staff have worked creatively with the young person’s parents and successfully established boundaries for contact that have helped to stabilise the young person and reduce conflict.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff have successfully established trusting relationships with the young person. They have gone out of their way to understand her needs and presentation. Their stickability has proved effective, and positive relationships now exist.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person has presented challenging behaviour in this placement. However, this has reduced, as has her risk-taking behaviour. The young person is no longer the subject of a court order restricting her liberty due to the degree of progress that has been made. She is now permitted free time in the community and in the main keeps to arrangements made with staff for her safe return.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The young person now has a mobile phone and keeps in touch with staff when she is out. She is also able to access social networking sites on her device. However, prior to this the young person completed internet safety training and entered into an agreement about safe and appropriate use. The young person has abused this on occasion, but the consequences of this were clear in advance and followed through by staff. Staff regularly check appropriate use, in line with the agreement. This ensures the young person’s safety.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

There have been improvements in relation to the young person’s educational progress. She is currently receiving home tuition but has also recently started to attend college for one day a week. The young person is enjoying the opportunity to learn alongside her peers. She is also looking ahead and has visited another college with the view of attending for her post-16 education in the autumn. This helps to motivate young people to achieve.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff ensure that the young person’s physical health needs are met. In addition, the young person is now engaging in therapy to help her address issues from her past. This is pleasing progress. Inspection report children’s home: 1238043 3 The home is warm and welcoming and decorated to a good standard. The home is spacious with plenty of room for the young person to engage in activities with staff or spend time alone. The young person’s belongings are evident, as they would be in a family home.

p.2

and young people since the most recent full inspection

The home continues to operate in accordance with its statement of purpose. However, since the last inspection, closed-circuit television (CCTV) has been installed outside the property. This is clear in this document. However, the organisation is yet to draft a policy to support the use of this, including details of access and retention.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Staff spoke positively about the ethos of the home and the direction they receive from the registered manager. Suitable action has been taken to address the one requirement and three recommendations made at the last full inspection. As a result, improvements are evident in the robustness of staff recruitment. A process is also now in place for sharing and agreeing young people’s risk assessments with their social workers.

p.3

and young people since the most recent full inspection

Partnership working is a strength of the home. Due to the complexities of the young people who have lived here, this has been essential to ensure the swift exchange of information. The registered manager regularly seeks feedback on the operation of the home from stakeholders involved. Positive feedback has been received, such as, ‘This placement has worked collaboratively with our service to manage the complex needs of [Name of the young person],’ and ‘I feel that your contribution in multi-agency meetings is highly valued; the manner and balance provided within this feedback is crucial to ensuring that plans progress and are effectively reviewed.’

p.3

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

27/06/2018 Full Good 22/06/2017 Full Requires improvement to be good

p.3

Recommendations

 Ensure that the home has a written policy on the use of CCTV, describing how this will support the safeguarding and well-being of those living and working in the home in accordance with regulation 24. Homes must gain consent to any monitoring or surveillance by the placing authority in writing at the time of placement. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 16, paragraph 3.16) Inspection report children’s home: 1238043 4

p.3

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.

p.4

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.

p.4

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’.

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Nurture Childcare Services Ltd

p.4

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: 71 Edge End Lane, Great Harwood, Blackburn, Lancashire BB6 7QD

p.4

Inspector

Mandy Williams, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: 1238043 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.

p.4

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.5

Inspector

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

p.5

Inspector

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

p.5