Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC069198 1 SC069198 Registered provider: Meadows Care Ltd

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This is a privately run children’s home that provides care and accommodation for up to three children and young people.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The organisation has an integrated therapy service available to the children and young people.

p.1

Information about this children’s home

The registered manager commenced her role at the home in December 2016. She is experienced, and has completed her level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

outstanding

How well children and young people are helped and protected outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The effectiveness of leaders and managers outstanding

p.1

outstanding

The children’s home provides highly effective services that consistently exceed the standards of good. The actions of the children’s home contribute to significantly improved outcomes and positive experiences for children and young people who need help, protection and care.

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC069198 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

28/08/2018 Full Outstanding 14/11/2017 Full Good 21/02/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 25/10/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC069198 3

p.2

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

This home provides exceptional care to children and young people who have experienced trauma, abuse and neglect. Staff understand the impact of early childhood experiences and they are supportive and consistent in their approach. This is successful in improving and sustaining very good outcomes for the children and young people.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children and young people develop excellent relationships with the staff team, who know them well. The inspector observed the positive interactions between the staff and the children and young people. The children and young people’s feedback throughout the inspection demonstrates how settled and happy they are living in this home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

The staff have embraced the therapeutic approach using the model of attachment. They are supported by a trained therapist who visits the home regularly. This daily focus, and the children and young people’s therapy sessions, do resolve problematic behaviours, feelings and relationship issues. The integration of therapy into daily life improves the children and young people’s emotional and psychological well-being.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Engagement in education is positive. All the children and young people are engaged in school, despite previous difficulties. Staff incentivise education attendance and attainment effectively. They celebrate the children and young people’s achievements. This increases the children and young people’s confidence and self-belief.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff carry out creative key-work sessions with the children and young people. These sessions are visual and engaging. Each session is individualised to the child or young person and their care plan. Staff complete monthly outcome reports which show progress and contribute to the children and young people’s journey records. These records clearly show the progress that the children and young people have made from the time they came to live in the home.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Social workers consistently say that the best thing about this home is the leadership and the staff. They feel that the staff ensure that the children and young people’s voice is heard and any issues that are important to them get sorted out. A parent provided written feedback showing their appreciation of the help, support and compassion the staff provide.

p.3

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

The registered manager understands the complexities of managing the different needs and risks of children and young people. At the time of referral, she considers all of the risks fully, before children and young people arrive at the home. The careful and detailed assessment of each child and young person’s needs ensures the safety and well-being of all children and young people living in the home.

p.3

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

There is a coordinated approach by the staff in identifying, managing and reviewing the Inspection report children’s home: SC069198 4 children and young people’s risk. Staff are trained, practice is informed by research and they understand their safeguarding responsibilities. Clear strategies known by the staff support them to understand the actions they should take in response to the children and young people’s vulnerabilities. Children and young people told the inspector that they trust their staff and feel safe.

p.3

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

Children and young people’s behaviour significantly improves in this home. This is because of the nurturing care, trust and respect they share with their staff and with each other. Children and young people enjoy and engage in structure and routine. After school, they participate in their chosen activities and they are in bed at a reasonable time. These daily routines, complemented by very good relationships with staff, mean that incidents of negative behaviour are rarely seen.

p.4

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

Children and young people are encouraged to build their independence skills by using free time, independent travel and the safe use of the internet and mobile phones. Incidents of going missing from home or absences have significantly reduced from the time the children and young people came to live in the home. This has been achieved through agreed contact plans with the people who are important to the children and young people.

p.4

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

Children and young people can identify trusted staff when they need to discuss concerns or worries. One young person told the inspector, ‘This place does things when they say they will do things. This has not happened in other places I have lived.’

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager and team leader are passionate and inspiring. They are available in the home and know the children and young people and staff team well. This enthusiasm runs through the staff team, whose members share a vision for achieving and maintaining the best outcomes for the children and young people.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are sufficient in number, suitably qualified and experienced. They receive high levels of advice and support from the registered manager, team leader and each other. Complementing and underpinning this support is access to specific training, supervision and appraisals.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff use research to inform their creative, visual and engaging practice. The registered manager asks staff to plan, lead and present regular workshops at team meetings to develop staff practice. The research folder provides staff with additional guidance and skills to meet the specific needs of the children and young people in the home.

p.4

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The registered manager has established systems to evaluate the effectiveness of care. She routinely asks children and young people and professionals to complete questionnaires. She utilises information from the children and young people’s meetings, staff meetings and the monthly independent visitor report. Because of these arrangements, the children and young people receive excellent care and support in the home. Inspection report children’s home: SC069198 5 The influence of the registered manager, team leader and staff extends beyond this home. They work well with external professionals and are not afraid to challenge so that the children and young people receive what they are entitled to. Staff continue to advise, support and protect the children and young people who have moved on from the home. Many young people often return to the home for a brew and a chat. Consequently, they regard this as their home and a stable and friendly place to return to.

p.4

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.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: SC069198 6

p.5

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Egerton House, Wardle Road, Rochdale OL12 9EN

p.6

Inspector

Mark Kersh, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC069198 7 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.6

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.7

Inspector

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

p.7

Inspector

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

p.7