Children's home run by Pathfinders (childcare) Limited in Rochdale

Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 1 SC381722 Registered provider: Pathfinders (childcare) Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This private children’s home is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to two young people who may have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties.

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

Date of last inspection: 15 November 2018

p.1

outstanding

Overall judgement at last inspection: outstanding

p.1

outstanding

Enforcement action since last inspection: none Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

15/11/2018 Full Outstanding 01/11/2017 Full Outstanding 09/03/2017 Interim Sustained effectiveness 13/12/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 3

p.2

Recommendations

 Any individual appointed to carry out visits to the home as an independent person must make a rigorous and impartial assessment of the home’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the home’s care. This should include gathering the views of external stakeholders. (‘Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards’, page 65, paragraph 15.5)

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Children benefit from prolonged placements. The experience of living at this home has had a significant and positive impact on their lives. Staff have worked hard to help both children to develop a sense of permanence and belonging. This has provided a platform on which to make continuous and sustained improvement in many aspects of their lives. The manager ensures that the children know their plans and are kept up to date with any changes to their care plan. There is a culture of openness and transparency, which helps the children to feel secure, happy and settled.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

During their time at the home, children have been supported unconditionally by a small team of consistent staff members, who demonstrate a parent-like commitment to both children. Children form strong attachments with staff. A social worker said, ‘[name] sees the placement as their home. It’s a fantastic place. The staff team go above and beyond to meet [name]’s needs.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Staff talk with pride about both children. They like spending time with the children and provide lots of opportunities to pursue their individual interests but also provide opportunities for new experiences. One child spoke about their recent trip abroad and their first time on a plane. These memories are captured in colourful and child-friendly memory books that provide a pictorial record of their experiences and progress; an important reminder of their time in the home for when they leave.

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Educational outcomes have remained excellent. Both children enjoy full attendance at mainstream schools. They are ready to learn every day and are part of their school communities. Staff have high aspirations for both children. This helps children to have high expectations and aspirations for themselves. One child during the inspection talked about their plans to become a barrister in the future. A strong, collaborative home- school relationship has been established. This has been used effectively to respond to and successfully overcome several challenges and potential barriers to participation. An education professional said, ‘We work in partnership. When behaviour changes, we communicate and work together to help [name] make positive changes.’

p.3

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: outstanding

Good working partnerships with health providers ensure that the children’s known and Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 4 emerging physical and emotional health needs are consistently met. Staff monitor and respond to changes in behaviour, such as secretive behaviour and friendship changes. As the whole staff team knows the children so well, they are able to ensure that the right level of support is in place to prevent any emerging concerns escalating. The manager works in partnership with the therapy provider to access support when it is required for either the children or to guide staff to support the children effectively.

p.3

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

Risks for children are understood and clearly recorded. Children participate in identifying strategies to support their own behaviour. Changes in behaviour and emerging risks are quickly identified and routinely shared among the staff team and other professionals. This level of communication helps maintain children’s safety.

p.4

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

Relationships are a key strength in this home. Children have forged strong attachments with the manager and staff. Relationships are effective in applying clear and consistent boundaries in a calm, caring and parent-like manner. Staff talk with children about how to manage their frustrations and are actively encouraged to be solution-focused. This has resulted in children achieving positive changes in their individual routines, for example negotiating more free time or earning a television in their bedroom. One child said during the inspection, ‘I ask for something and we talk about how I can work towards getting what I want.’ The effectiveness of this approach is evident in how children feel part of the home and in the way they manage their own behaviour.

p.4

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

Children do not go missing, but staff are aware of what to do if they did. Staff are alert to risks of child sexual exploitation and ensure that they remain up to date with training and in their knowledge of the local risks. The manager has an established professional relationship with the local child sexual exploitation specialist team and will refer to them should any concerns emerge.

p.4

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

Staff are trained in safeguarding procedures and have used practice-based research to ensure that the young person remains protected. For example, innovative and research- led team meetings are undertaken on issues such as attachment, which is a key aspect in both children’s lives. This helps the staff team be prepared and able to manage behaviour positively and safely and support children to develop their emotional resilience and regulate their own emotions.

p.4

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

Since the last full inspection, there have been no incidents of drug or alcohol misuse, restrictive physical intervention or police involvement due to criminality. Children living at the home are making excellent progress and are responding positively to the care they receive.

p.4

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

Since the previous inspection, there have been two formal safeguarding referrals made. The manager responded swiftly and appropriately to the emerging concerns on both occasions. Consequently, the safeguarding procedures were effective and supported the child to be safe. One social worker said, ‘They really know how [name] ticks, which has been really important.’ Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 5 Safe recruitment practices are utilised to ensure that young people are protected and that all staff at the home are suitable and safe to work with children.

p.4

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

Children live in a physically safe environment where all routine checks, risk assessments and safety policies and procedures are rigorously adhered to.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager is an inspirational and passionate leader who acts as a positive role model for staff and children. She is extremely enthusiastic about supporting the children and is committed to helping them achieve their full potential. The manager has recently secured a new role outside of the organisation. The provider has taken steps to recruit a replacement. The manager has taken a number of steps to ensure a smooth handover to the new manager and has worked tirelessly to ensure that the team has maintained the high level of care during this period of change.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager provides exceptional leadership and ensures that the aims and objectives in the statement of purpose are met. Her practice is soundly based on up-to-date research, and she has been instrumental in developing the strong theoretical and practical base for the staff team to work from.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Staff are extremely positive about working in the home. They feel well supported by the manager and each other. They receive regular and effective supervision. The retention level of staff is high, which means that children are looked after by staff whom they know and trust. The staff team members are diverse and are excellent role models for the children.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Continual professional development is a key strength of this service. The manager maintains a thorough oversight of training needs and makes sure that all mandatory training is kept up to date. Staff are encouraged by the manager to develop areas of specific expertise and interest. Their learning is shared openly with the team in reflective team meetings and general discussions.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Most staff are qualified to level 3 or higher. Other staff are in the process of obtaining the level 3 qualification within the required timescales, set by regulation.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

Partnership working is extremely effective and contributes to the progress that children are making in the home. One educational professional commented, ‘We communicate very well together. We meet every two weeks, which has helped to keep [name] on track. It is clear that education is a priority in the home.’

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: outstanding

The manager understands the home’s strengths and weaknesses exceptionally well. She quickly addresses any shortfalls and ensures that improvements are sustained. Monthly independent visitor visits always take place. The report provides an overview of the home. However, the visitor does not regularly obtain stakeholders’ views regarding the care in the home. This does not impact on children because of the level of consultation Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 6 the manager has in place with both stakeholders and children. A good practice recommendation has been raised in relation to this shortfall.

p.5

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.6

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: SC381722 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Pathfinders (childcare) Ltd

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Middle Red Lumb Farm, Red Lumb, Rochdale OL12 7TX

p.7

Children’s home details

Responsible individual: Elizabeth Cooper

p.7

Inspector

Louise Redfern, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC381722 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.

p.7

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.8

Inspector

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

p.8

Inspector

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

p.8