Children's Home run by Partners in Care Limited in Westmorland and Furness

Inspection report children’s home: SC035049 1 SC035049 Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

p.1

Full inspection Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

p.1

Information about this children’s home

This children’s home is operated by a large provider. It is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three young people who have emotional and/or behavioural difficulties. The manager was registered with Ofsted in August 2018. She is enrolled on the level 5 diploma in leadership and management for residential childcare (England).

p.1

Overall experiences and progress of

children and young people, taking into account

p.1

good

How well children and young people are helped and protected good

p.1

good

The effectiveness of leaders and managers good

p.1

good

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

p.1

good

Date of last inspection: 30 October 2018

p.1

good

Overall judgement at last inspection: Good

p.1

good

Enforcement action since last inspection: None Inspection report children’s home: SC035049 2

p.1

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

30/10/2018 Full Good 27/09/2017 Full Good 30/03/2017 Interim Improved effectiveness 11/10/2016 Full Outstanding Inspection report children’s home: SC035049 3

p.2

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.

p.3

Requirement Due date

The procedures to be followed in the event of an allegation of abuse or neglect must, in particular, provide for prompt referral of an allegation about current or ongoing abuse or neglect in relation to a child to the placing authority and, if different, the local authority in whose area the home is located. (Regulation 34(2)(b))

p.3

Requirement Due date

Specifically, the local area designated officer should be informed of an allegation as soon as possible after the allegation has been made. 20/11/2018

p.3

Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

p.3

Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

p.3

Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home.

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

p.3

Requirement Due date

that children are admitted to the home only if their needs are within the range of needs of children for whom it is intended that the home is to provide care and accommodation, as set out in the home’s statement of purpose. (Regulation 14(1)(a)(b) and (2)(a))

p.3

Requirement Due date

In particular, children should be carefully matched to each other and, where they have the same risks, the home must consider the impact of those risks on each child. 20/11/2019 Inspection report children’s home: SC035049 4

p.3

Recommendations

 Staff should understand the system for rewarding and celebrating positive behaviour and recognising where children have managed situations well. (Guide to the children’s homes regulations including the quality standards page 46, paragraph 9.39) In particular, any rewards given should not be contradictory to children’s needs as identified in their plans.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

The home has a particularly ‘homely’ feel, and young people were observed to be comfortable and confident in their environment. Young people are currently settled and are making good progress across a range of areas. They reported that they are happy living in the home and that they have good relationships with staff and with each other. They feel that staff genuinely care for them, and discussions held with staff as part of this inspection support this view.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff were observed to support and encourage young people in a sensitive and calm way. This helps young people to emotionally regulate. Staff spend time with young people listening to their views and actively engaging them in activities. For example, while the inspection was taking place, a young person was taken to pick a pumpkin to carve for Halloween, and another played ‘board-less scrabble’ with a staff member. Two young people have pets in the home, which allows them a tactile therapeutic experience and teaches them to be responsible.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Staff promote young people’s independence. This helps them prepare to move on from the home. One young person has developed her independence skills to a level from which she has a planned move into semi-independent living. She has learned to travel, by herself, to her home town, which is a complex journey using public transport. During the inspection, this young person was proud to evidence her kitchen skills and produced some wonderful baking.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Although not all young people are in full-time education, they are making progress and learning new skills. One young person’s education progress is slow but continuous, and the home is actively involved in encouraging her daily to attend and engage. When she is unable to do so, staff obtain work from her tutor and complete this with her.

p.4

Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: good

Young people feel listened to and that staff would listen to them should they have any worries or concerns. They are helped and encouraged to express their views and to speak about sensitive topics in a supportive way. Staff are sensitive to issues that may embarrass young people and work to address these in a way that does not stigmatise them. Young people know how to complain and have utilised the complaints process. Managers advocate for young people when they make complaints to their placing Inspection report children’s home: SC035049 5 authority.

p.4

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

Young people are currently settled and are not showing risk-taking behaviours. There have been occasions, however, when young people have acted together and encouraged each other to engage in high-risk behaviours. This is, in part, due to a matching process that does not evaluate the risks young people may pose to each other. Additionally, two young people with some similar risks were admitted within one week of each other, which appears to have been a trigger for disruption and risk taking. As a result, a requirement is made.

p.5

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

Young people’s risks are known and understood. There are appropriate strategies in place to reduce and manage known risks. Staff are confident about risk management and feel they have the appropriate skills and training. Behaviour management plans are detailed and provide clear instructions for staff to follow to manage behaviour effectively. Staff were observed to be skilled in implementing boundaries and preventing behaviour from escalating.

p.5

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

Staff educate young people about risks and help them to explore and understand the issues affecting them. As a result, young people’s risks reduce over time, and they become more able to regulate their behaviour.

p.5

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

One young person has made considerable progress in accepting advice, guidance and boundaries around food consumption and food choices. He is also responding positively to an individualised reward chart to work towards getting a pet mouse. One issue identified for good practice is to ensure that positive behaviour is not rewarded with food when this is a trigger area for the young person.

p.5

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

Child sexual exploitation and missing from home risks significantly reduce over time for young people. As a result, they can have more freedom and independence because they know how to keep themselves safe.

p.5

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

An issue in relation to the management of allegations, which was raised at the previous inspection, has not yet been met. Although there has been no negative impact on young people, a requirement is carried forward in respect of following procedures for involving the designated officer at an early stage of any allegation.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The new manager has developed a strong and stable leadership team, which is determined to continuously develop the home and improve the care that young people receive. There has been a high turnover of care staff, which is not attributable to managers, but has some impact on young people’s opportunity to forge long-term, stable relationships. Inspection report children’s home: SC035049 6 The manager has an inclusive ethos, involves staff in decision-making and is unafraid to delegate. As a result, staff feel valued and respected. Staff reported that managers are available and approachable. Staff have regular supervision and training. They respond positively to opportunities to progress.

p.5

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

Recording systems have been improved. Records are clear and they are live documents in which updates are easily identifiable. Records are kept up to date, and staff read and sign to show they are familiar with each young person’s plans and assessments.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager has excellent oversight of all documentation and makes detailed comments on many records. This helps her monitor the quality of recording. The manager also has good systems in place to ensure that local authorities provide the required documents, and she requests these if they are not supplied.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

The manager understands the home’s strengths and its areas for development. She is committed to achieving the best outcomes for children and is also keen to put her own ‘stamp’ on the home. She knows the young people well and understands the progress they are making.

p.6

The effectiveness of leaders and managers: good

External agencies that were contacted during this inspection spoke positively about the standard of care, joint working and communication.

p.6

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: SC035049 7

p.6

Children’s home details

Registered provider: Partners in Care Limited

p.7

Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Rouse House, 2 Wyther Lane, Kirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS5 3BT

p.7

Inspector

Charlie Bamber, social care inspector Inspection report children’s home: SC035049 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