Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 1 SC361811 Registered provider: Meadows Care Ltd

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Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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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.

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Information about this children’s home

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

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Information about this children’s home

The registered manager commenced her role at the home in October 2018. She is experienced and has completed her level 5 qualification in leadership and management.

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Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

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good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

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good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

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good

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

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good

Overall judgement at last inspection: requires improvement to be good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

14/08/2018 Full Requires improvement to be good 27/06/2017 Full Outstanding 23/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 22/06/2016 Full Good Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 3

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

 The registered person should make best use of information from internal monitoring to ensure continuous improvement. (‘Guide to the children’s home regulations including the quality standards’, page 55, paragraph 10.24)

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

With specific reference to ensuring that staff training records are kept up to date.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The young people are very positive about the care that they receive from the staff team. They feel that staff genuinely care about them and help them to overcome individual difficulties and challenges.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff provide a very structured environment with clear routines. The core of their work is based around positive behaviour plans, with clear expectations, along with a system of incentives and rewards for achievement. Because of this positive work, the young people make progress in a variety of ways.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

A social worker spoke of the difference that the service has made for one young person who arrived at the home at a point of crisis. She said: ‘[Young person’s name] has settled in very well. Staff have quickly developed really good relationships with her and have created a family-like environment where she feels valued and safe.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Engagement in education is positive. All the young people attend education and have good levels of engagement and attainment. Young people are also offered a range of other vocational experiences in the local community. This has had a positive impact on their self-esteem and overall academic achievements.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people enjoy good health. They are encouraged to eat balanced meals, attend all routine appointments and exercise regularly.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff have good insight into young people’s mental and emotional health. Staff have access to a team of specialists who provide meaningful therapeutic advice and support. These resources support the young people’s overall well-being.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff ensure that young people live full and active lives. Young people have excellent access to a wide range of activities and interests. These activities help to build confidence and resilience. Lots of fun events also take place in the home, for example charitable events, baking and pamper nights. The young people have a full say in all these arrangements and enjoy spending time with staff and each other.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make very good progress in developing independence skills and taking responsibility for decisions that they make. They are encouraged to try different Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 4 opportunities and develop new skills. As such, the young people’s self-esteem and confidence have increased.

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

This home provides a secure base for the young people. This is due to clear routines, good staffing levels and the strong relationships that young people have with staff. Observations throughout this inspection clearly highlight that young people feel safe and secure at the home.

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

Staff are vigilant and active in their safeguarding role. All the young people take part in purposeful direct work with the staff around risk-taking behaviour. This includes discussion around exploitation, consent and sexual health. This has proved effective in keeping young people safe.

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

The registered manager and staff team identify and understand the risks and vulnerabilities associated with the young people. These are clearly set out in regularly updated risk management plans.

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

Staff know how to implement and follow missing-from-home policies and protocols. When young people go missing, staff take prompt action to locate them quickly and promote their safe return to the home.

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

There is a process in place for young people to be seen by an independent person on their return. This ensures that all information is captured, understood and acted on.

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

The manager ensures that young people are protected by the organisation’s effective recruitment practices. These procedures promote the safety of the young people by preventing unsuitable adults from working with them.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has considerable experience and has a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the home. She is open to new ideas and is motivated to continue to improve. She is committed to providing young people with the best possible care.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a range of training opportunities. This ensures that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to support young people. However, not all training records are kept up to date. This makes it difficult to track and monitor what each member of staff has attended. This shortfall has not had any direct impact on the safety or well-being of young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff say that the setting is well managed and feel happy in their roles. One member of staff said: ‘I feel all staff and management work well together and we offer a safe and nurturing environment. The home is settled, and the dynamics are working well. The girls are achieving and have built great relationships with staff and appear happy.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 5 Staff benefit from regular and effective supervisions and team meetings. This enables the staff to reflect on practice and contribute to care planning and behaviour management for young people.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Most monitoring systems are used effectively to ensure that young people make good progress and achieve good outcomes. An external person visits the home to monitor and report on the quality of care provided. They make recommendations where necessary, and this contributes to the development of the service.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The registered manager has strong and effective relationships with other professionals. She is proactive in seeking out services when required. This partnership approach means that young people have access to a range of support services within the community.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Suitable action has been taken to address the requirements raised at the last inspection. This demonstrates good learning from inspection activity.

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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

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: SC361811 6

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Ceri Evans, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC361811 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.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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