Children's home run by Meadows Care Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC442864 1 SC442864 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 manager was registered with Ofsted in July 2018. She is in the process of completing 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: good

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good

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC442864 2

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

05/06/2018 Full Good 14/06/2017 Full Good 19/01/2017 Interim Declined in effectiveness 23/08/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC442864 3

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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 leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that helps children aspire to fulfil their potential and promotes their welfare. In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to— ensure that the home’s workforce provides continuity of care to each child. (Regulation 13(1)(a)(b)(2)(e)) 30/09/2019

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there. (Regulation 40(4)(c)) 30/09/2019

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Recommendation

 The registered person should ensure that staff can access appropriate facilities and resources to support their training needs, and should understand the key role they play in the training and development of staff in the home. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 53, paragraph 10.11)

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people make good progress in different aspects of their lives from the time of admission to the home.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from a homely and safe environment. They respond well to the nurturing care they receive and the emotional warmth of staff. Staff are proactive in their efforts in building trusting relationships with young people. As a result, young people’s emotional well-being significantly improves.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Decision-making processes in relation to admissions are good. As a result, the matching of young people is safe and the atmosphere within the home is harmonious.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Collectively, young people were extremely positive of the support that they receive in the Inspection report children’s home: SC442864 4 home. They said:

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

 ‘Staff are very friendly and care for us. They help us to have normal everyday routines and have fun. I really like it here.’  ‘The staff who are here the most have become like a little family to me. I can talk to them about anything and they always listen.’  ‘This is a safe place to be. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. I get on with everyone and it’s really chilled and relaxed here.’

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff support and encourage young people to maintain good attendance in education and most make significant progress with their learning. However, despite the best efforts of staff, some young people struggle to engage. The manager is proactive in communicating with schools and arranging meetings to consider young people’s needs and progress. As such, any disruption to education is addressed quickly and effectively.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff build constructive relationships with young people’s families to promote contact. As a result, some young people reconnect with family members and others benefit from improved relationships with those who are important to them.

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Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people benefit from good health and well-being. Good partnership working with health teams and the provider’s in-house therapist ensure that young people’s emotional health needs are considered and met quickly. Young people lead enjoyable and fulfilling lives. They experience a wide range of activities, learn new skills and take up new hobbies. These activities provide learning opportunities and support the young people in growing in confidence and self-esteem. Staff continuously record the progress that young people make in a range of different ways. For example, young people have memory books that capture their time living at the home. This helps to document significant events and positive experiences in a format that young people can take with them when they move on.

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

Young people are safe and feel safe in the home. They interact well with all the staff and each other.

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

Staff demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of safe working practice. The use of clear risk assessment, effective behaviour management strategies and proactive safeguarding practice promotes the safety and well-being of young people.

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

The young people’s complex behaviours are clearly understood. The manager and staff are skilled at identifying the triggers to negative behaviours and respond appropriately. Because of this, young people are settled and feel secure in the knowledge that staff understand them.

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

Young people know how to make a complaint, and their rights are promoted effectively. There have been three complaints since the last inspection. All have been addressed Inspection report children’s home: SC442864 5 effectively by the manager.

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

Allegations are handled quickly and effectively, and appropriate action is taken to safeguard young people. That said, on at least one occasion the manager did not ensure that Ofsted was notified of an allegation. This prevents Ofsted from having the necessary oversight in knowing that young people are safe and protected.

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

All the required health and safety certificates are in place to ensure a safe and well- maintained environment.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has a very hands-on approach and knows the young people in her care very well. She is child-focused and committed to delivering and maintaining good standards of care. The manager promotes a clear ethos that is caring, supportive and safe.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has excellent relationships with local agencies and is highly regarded by professionals. This collaborative approach promotes young people’s welfare and safety.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The turnover of staff is noted as an area of development. Achieving consistency in staffing has posed a challenge for the home. On occasions, there has been a need to use staff from other homes within the organisation, as well as agency staff. The staff rota indicates that there are suitable levels to manage the needs of the young people. However, vacancies still exist.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff receive regular practice-related supervision. Staff spoken with during the inspection confirm that supervision helps to develop their knowledge, skills and practice.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Staff have access to a range of training. This includes core training, such as safeguarding and first aid, alongside more specialist courses. Most of the core training is up to date. However, the inspector identified that some staff have not yet updated their behaviour management training. This is essential to ensure that practice remains current and well informed.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has an in-depth understanding of the strengths and areas for improvement in the home. This is supported by comprehensive development plans, including one for the workforce. This assists the manager to ensure the continual development of the home.

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The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Regular monitoring of the home, both externally and internally, is good. Monthly visits by an external visitor are undertaken to ensure independent scrutiny of the quality of care provided. Shortfalls identified as part of this process are routinely addressed to ensure that the home is operating appropriately and meeting the young people’s needs.

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Information about this inspection

Inspection report children’s home: SC442864 6 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: SC442864 7

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Children’s home details

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

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Inspector

Ceri Evans, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC442864 8 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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